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Historic Resources Profile

Introduction

Lebanon County and its local municipalities are rich in history and cultural amenities that distinguish the county from others in the region. Beginning with a brief historical sketch of Lebanon County, this profile will inventory sites of local, county, and state significance, via existing cultural resource inventories, surveys, and reports. It will also note additional sites of significance with relevant potential for inclusion in the county’s recreation, open space and greenway network. The profile will describe existing protection, management and interpretation practices and programs, including the effectiveness of current historic district regulations.

History and Culture of Lebanon County

The Lebanon Valley was first occupied by Native Americans, namely the Leni Lenapi or Delaware Indians of the Algonquin family. Though they defended their territory rigorously against European immigrants, they were ultimately killed or displaced from the region by the persistence of colonial frontiersmen. Fortunately, they are not forgotten, for the names they gave to the landscape features are still in use today.

Swatara – meaning “where we feed on eels” Quittapahilla – meaning “spring from the ground among pines” Conewago – meaning “place of the rapids” Tulpehocken – meaning “land of the turtles” Kittatinny – meaning “endless hills” 1

Early settlements were defended by frontier forts. Fort Manada and Fort Swatara were established along the Kittatinny Ridge. Light’s Fort (along present-day PA 72), Reed’s Fort (along present-day US 22) and Fort Zeller (near present-day Newmanstown) were valley-based shelters during Indian raids. These locations are commemorated with historical markers. 2

The Lebanon Valley was settled from west to east in the early 1700s by Scotch-Irish and German families. The Scotch-Irish families, who fled Quaker oppression in Philadelphia, followed the Susquehanna River banks, settled in then eastern Dauphin County where land was available by payment or squatting. Their heritage prepared them for frontier life with a strong sense of self-reliance and a love of hunting, fishing and adventure. The Scotch-Irish people were also civic minded and established early social organizations. The German families had roots in the Rhine region of southwest Germany and were devoted farmers. After failed attempts to settle in New York, they sought a milder climate in Pennsylvania at the invitation of the governor. 3

George Steitz is given credit for laying out the present city of Lebanon in the 1740s. The town was located in what was then Lebanon Township in Lancaster County and was commonly called Steitz Town or Steiza, after its proprietor. The village was renamed Lebanon in 1758 and became the county seat when Lebanon County was created by an Act of Assembly in 1813 from portions of Dauphin and Lancaster Counties. 4

The first settlers in the Lebanon Valley were farmers attracted to the valley’s fertile land. As farming became more productive, different trades and industries moved into the valley. It was the farmers, though, who were responsible for the first major improvements in the county. The Berks and Dauphin Turnpike , formed in 1805 and now U.S. Route 422, was largely a result of the Lebanon Valley farmers’ demand for a better means to transport their crops to the markets. The

1 A Report of the Geological Setting and History of Lebanon County. Part I of a Comprehensive Plan for Lebanon County. 1958. 2 Ibid. 3 Ibid. 4 Lebanon County Historical Society. Annals published in the Souvenir Program for Lebanon’s Bicentennial, celebrated June 30-July 5, 1940.

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turnpike bisected the county and had stops in Myerstown, Lebanon, Annville, and Palmyra along with numerous smaller communities. It was the turnpike that served as the first growth catalyst in the county. 5

The state sponsored the construction of the Lancaster to Sunbury Road , by way of Lebanon and Jonestown. Built around 1820 and now known as Route 72, it has been and continues to be an important artery of north-south transportation. 6 Completion of the Horse Shoe Pike, now U.S. Route 322, linking Harrisburg to Philadelphia and traversing the southern portion of the county, was completed in 1829.

The development of transportation routes was not the only infrastructure improvement that took place in early Lebanon County. The water works of colonial Schaefferstown constitute the first water conveyance system through underground pipes ever established in a British colony in North America. The first pipes, thought to have been laid prior to 1750, were made of wood sections of oak with holes bored through the center. These wooden pipes served for a century before they were replaced with the metal pipes that still bring water, by gravity, from a spring on Tower Hill to the center of town. The water flowed from the spring to Market Street, and along Market Street to the northwest corner of Market Square. In 1845, the General Assembly of Pennsylvania granted a charter to the Schaefferstown Water Company the rights and property to be held in trust forever. This company was a successor to the Fountain Company of Heidelberg. Today, two fountains mark the location of the early system in what is now known as Fountain Park. 789

Also contributing heavily to the development patterns in the area were the Cornwall ore hills and furnaces. The discovery of the ore by Peter Grubb was vital to the economy, and the location of the ore hills themselves made the Cornwall area a natural area for the smelting of iron ore. Not only was there a seemingly plentiful, easily accessible source of iron ore, but it was surrounded by forest, which provided wood for coke production, and limestone, a prime smelting ingredient. There was also the availability of streams to furnish power for the furnaces needed to process the ore. Thus, all four ingredients necessary for the process of smelting ore were readily available. The proximity to the anthracite fields to the north became an asset when coal fired furnaces became prominent in the 1840s. The Cornwall iron ore hills and furnaces were a catalyst for the growth and development of an industry which would become the backbone of both the economy of Lebanon County and also the Commonwealth. The ore hills also provided the principal source of metal for the railroads involved in the expansion and development of the country to the west. 10

The operation of the Cornwall iron ore mines and furnaces was acquired by Robert Coleman, who later passed controlling interest to his great grandson, Robert Habersham Coleman. As production increased and the markets expanded, the Coleman family acknowledged the need for rail service. In 1853, R.W. Coleman, William Coleman, and G. Dawson Coleman formed the North Lebanon Railroad , later renamed the Cornwall Railroad Company , to connect the ore hills to the Union Canal landings in Lebanon.11 In 1883, as even wider markets were sought, R.H. Coleman built the Cornwall and Lebanon Railroad which ran from Lebanon to Cornwall and through the Conewago Hills to Elizabethtown. 12 The railroad was built to connect holdings to the Pennsylvania Railroad at Conewago, thereby opening Cornwall and Lebanon to markets in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and west. Both of these lines provided passenger service throughout the county and to two favorite local picnic and recreation areas, the Mount Gretna Park and Penryn Park.

Another catalyst for growth was the Union Canal . Completed in 1827, the 81-mile long Union Canal was designed to connect the Susquehanna River at Middletown with the Schuylkill River in Reading and served as a primary transportation route in the mid 1800s. The canal brought prosperity to many communities including Myerstown. As a junction of the canal and the Berks and Dauphin Turnpike, Myerstown became a bustling trade and transportation center providing services to travelers. 13

5 Lebanon County Interim Plan, prepared by the Lebanon County Planning Department. 1987. 6 North Lebanon Township Comprehensive Plan, 1994. 7 Lebanon County Historical Society. Article published in the Souvenir Program for Lebanon’s Bicentennial, celebrated June 30-July5, 1940. 8 “Lebanon County Through the Centuries.” An Appreciation, Lebanon Steel Foundry, Lebanon Pennsylvania. 9 Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. 10 Cornwall Borough Comprehensive Plan, prepared by the Lebanon County Planning Department, 1990. 11 Cornwall Borough Comprehensive Plan, prepared by the Lebanon County Planning Department, 1990. 12 Bitner, Jack. “Mount Gretna, A Coleman Legacy.” Prepared for the Mount Gretna Area Historical Society. 13 Lebanon County Interim Plan, prepared by the Lebanon County Planning Department. 1987.

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Mount Gretna was selected by Robert Coleman as a station and recreation area. In 1884, the floor of the park was cleared and picnic facilities installed among springs and varied trees and plants. The following year, he invited the Pennsylvania 3 rd Brigade to encamp at Mt. Gretna and had grounds adjacent to the park cleared. This was the summer home of the Pennsylvania National Guard for the next half century, until it moved to Fort Indiantown Gap in 1935. In the fall of 1885, Coleman ordered a dam constructed across Conewago Creek, and by the spring of 1886, Lake Conewago appeared. By 1890, the park was supplied with electricity and drew crowds in excess of 20,000. 14 In 1909 the magnificent, 100+ room Hotel Conewago opened to visitors. Located on the western shore of the lake, the facility “was equipped with billiard tables and bowling alleys, tennis courts, basement garages and huge sandstone fireplaces in the lobbies.” However, with the departure of the troops and the economic consequences of the 1929 Depression, the hotel closed its doors in the late 1930’s and was demolished in 1941 15 .

The Valley Glen Park was located across the Swatara Creek from the Union Canal and was owned and operated by Daniel Kline. The large shade trees, fresh water, fishing, and the passing of occasional canal boats provided an enticing atmosphere for the park, which was laid out in 1888. Rides and attractions were designed and constructed by Kline. These included the Flying Horse Machine or the Merry-Go-Round; the Shooty-Chute, a 60-foot slide for sleds ending in a pool of water; an in- stream float for sunbathing or a game of King-of-the-Hill; and a paddle boat named Steamboat Annie, which made a half- mile roundtrip ride up and down the Swatara Creek. The park was a destination for residents of Lebanon County and the greater region for leisure and special events such as church picnics, school and social functions. Milton S. Hershey brought factory employees to the park for outings and may have even led to the development of Hershey Park. The dammed stream also provided a source of ice in winter which Kline supplied to summer cottages in the park.

In 1881, dissension over commercial activities arose at the United Brethren camp meeting at Stoverdale and a committee was appointed to seek a new site. Coleman leased 30 acres across the Conewago Creek from the park and gave each cottage owner at Stoverdale $120.00 to erect a seasonal residence at Mount Gretna on the lot of their choice. The lots were 20 feet by 24 feet with the intention that they be occupied by tents. By the first camp meeting in August 1892, 100 cottages had been built. At the same time, meetings had been held in Lebanon and committees were formed to create a Pennsylvania Chautauqua, after that in New York State. As the village grew, Mount Gretna became one of the most charming summer resorts in the nation, and after World War II, began to transition to a year-round residential area. 16

Although the rail lines that Mr. Coleman built were vitally important to the success of the iron mines and furnaces, the main rail lines ran east to west through the county. In 1857, the Lebanon Valley Railroad began east-west service through Palmyra and Lebanon, and two years later it merged with the Pennsylvania and Reading Company , which was later known as the Reading Railroad . The importance of the Union Canal diminished as rail service allowed for faster and more efficient movement of goods. The intersection of rail lines, in this case the City of Lebanon, benefited from the rail’s existence. The rail lines allowed for the expeditious delivery of both coal from the north and ore from the south, thus encouraging the iron and steel industries to become more firmly established in Lebanon. As steel and iron mills arose alongside the railroad, many new jobs were created. After 1840, Lebanon became the center of the budding iron and the steel industry, joining together the diverse activities occurring in the area, namely the iron ore mining of Cornwall, the limestone quarrying at Annville, and the charcoal coldblast furnaces in Cornwall and Colebrook.

The Cornwall Furnace ceased production in 1883. The Pennsylvania Steel Company , later acquired by the Bethlehem Steel Company , acquired the iron mines which operated into the 1970s. The mines closed largely as a result of flooding from Hurricane Agnes in 1972.

It was during the heyday of the railroad that the village of Cold Spring gained popularity as a summer resort. Since as early as 1775, the area was noted for its cold spring water and was named for this when it was created as a township from parts of Union and East Hanover Townships in 1853. The township grew out of the coal and lumber trade which had attracted considerable population by the mid 1800s, especially to areas such as Rausch Gap where the Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad had constructed a machine shop. The Schuylkill and Susquehanna and Philadelphia and Reading Railroads were designed primarily to bring coal to market. Around this time, William Lerch, Sr. is thought to have developed the land and constructed several structures near Cold Spring, including a hotel. In 1880, the land was sold to a business partnership that built the second hotel, cottage, bowling alley and a barn that was converted into a dance house. A request was made to the

14 Ibid. 15 Mt. Gretna, VOL. XIII NO.8, 1965; by Jack Bitner, read before the Leb. Co. Historical Society 05/18/62. pp. 376-379. 16 Ibid.

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Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroads and the Lebanon and Tremont Branch of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad for the provision of a depot for passengers, as the resort at Cold Spring was nearing completion. Advertisements mentioned an “elegant lake for boating and trout fishing,” referring to Dresden Lake, which was created by a dam at Cold Spring on Stoney Creek, constructed before 1876. A second dam downstream from Cold Spring created a second lake, thought to be Comey Lake. 17

The mountain resort became somewhat popular, but never really attracted sufficient customers to keep the business prospering. The property and improvements were posted for sale on October 14, 1899. The resort didn’t sell and was completely destroyed by a fire less than a year later, a week after the hotel closed for the season. The hotel was never rebuilt and some speculate that the fire was intentionally set to collect insurance money. As the coal industry slowed, so did the success of the railroad and soon after the people of the area left. 18

In the 1920s, the YMCA opened Shand Boys Camp on the property and used it as a camp until WWII. Photographs indicate that the campers arrived by train. WWII brought a new purpose to the region. The United States Army purchased the tract of land and named it Cold Spring Military Reservation . It served as a special training annex to Edward Martin Military Reservation , now Fort Indiantown Gap . After the war, military training at this site was abandoned, but the military remained in possession of the land. Adjoining tracts were sold in August 1945 by the Grandview Development Company to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, becoming State Game Lands #211 . The dam on Stoney Creek at Cold Spring failed at its spillway during the 1972 floods, but the lake bed of Dresden Lake is still visible. The lake created by the second dam downstream has filled with silt and debris and now resembles a swamp. The Cold Spring Road is still used today to access the State Game Lands. 19

The end of the 19th century also marks the time when pioneer Daniel Weaver started the first commercial Lebanon Bologna Company. Mr. Weaver went on to establish a plant in California in 1918, which his son operated. In addition to the manufacturing of bologna, Mr. Weaver provided the community with many resources including a water company for distribution to the local community which eventually became part of the municipal system, an ice plant to supply means of preservation for perishables during the hot summer months, and an electrical company which served many of the county villages and hamlets. 20 Weaver’s Famous Lebanon Bologna is still manufactured today, although the plant was sold in 2005 to Godshall’s Quality Meats and now operates under the name of Kutztown/Weaver Bologna Company. The bologna is manufactured at its plant at 15 th Avenue and Weavertown Road in North Lebanon Township. 21

Other bologna companies were established in Lebanon Valley in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries after the success of Daniel Weaver’s company. Harvey Seltzer began commercial production of his unique blend of beef and spices in 1902 and named the bologna after his hometown of Palmyra. The recipe has been handed down through generations and today, the company distributes Lebanon Bologna nationwide. 22 Seltzer’s also makes Bomberger’s Bologna, one of the other bologna pioneers in the county. Seltzer’s bought Bomberger’s in South Lebanon Township in 1961 and closed the operation in 1987 when it moved production to Palmyra. 23

During the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries another growth catalyst emerged—the first large-scale public utility systems. The use of public water removed the risk of consuming polluted well water. The establishment of public sewer systems, the first in the City of Lebanon in 1940, reduced pollution of waterways and allowed for much denser housing and ultimately led to more efficient and effective delivery of services. 24

As public utilities and infrastructure improved, so did methods of transportation. In 1899, the Lebanon Valley Street Railway Company was formed to provide trolley service to the towns to the east and west of Lebanon. By 1904, this service reached Palmyra, Myerstown and Schaefferstown. 25 The Hummelstown and Campbelltown Street Railway started

17 J.W. Via, St. Anthony’s Wilderness . References and sources located at: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/StAnthonyWilderness/reference.htm 18 Ibid. 19 Ibid. 20 Weaver’s 2005. 21 NBC 10. August 8, 2005 22 Seltzer’s Smokehouse Meats. 23 NBC 10. August 8, 2005 24 Lebanon County Interim Plan, prepared by the Lebanon County Planning Department. 1987. 25 “We Love PALMYRA 225 th Anniversary”

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providing service in 1904 and changed its name to the Hershey Transit Company in 1914. This trolley system provided transportation between Hershey and Lebanon, Elizabethtown, Fontana, Campbelltown, and Hummelstown. 26 The Lebanon Valley Street Railway Company operated until 1933 and the Hershey line made its last run on December 21, 1946.

Table 7-1: Incorporation Dates of Lebanon County Municipalities Lebanon County – A Sixth Class County Formed February 16, 1813 from parts of Dauphin and Lancaster Counties Name Incorporated Settled Incorporated From / Prior Status Third Class City Laid out as a town in 1756 and originally called Steitztown. Incorporated as a Boro. on February 20, 1821; Consolidated City of Lebanon 1885* 1750s Lebanon and N. Lebanon Boroughs in 1869; 30 annexations since incorporation including the Lebanon Independent Borough in 1950 Boroughs Cleona Boro. March 25, 1929 North Cornwall and North Lebanon Twps. Cornwall Boro. October 11, 1926 Cornwall and South Lebanon Twps. Jonestown Boro. August 20, 1870 1761 Swatara Twp. Mount Gretna Boro. 1926 South Londonderry and West Cornwall Twps. Myerstown Boro. 1910 1768 Jackson Twp. Palmyra Boro. November 10, 1913 Londonderry Twp. Richland Boro. October 17, 1906 Millcreek Twp. First Class Townships Annville Twp. 1912 1762 Incorporated as a Twp. September, 1799 Incorporated as a Twp. March 13, 1888; Incorporated from North West Lebanon Twp. 1902 or 1906** Lebanon Twp. Second Class Townships Bethel Twp. May 1793 About 1737 Lebanon Twp. Cold Spring Twp. November 3, 1853 About 1775 Union and East Hanover Twps. East Hanover Twp. February 1785 Hanover Twp. Heidelberg Twp. February 1757 About 1720 Incorporated while part of Lancaster County Jackson Twp. 1813 1700 Bethel and Heidelberg Twps. Millcreek Twp. February 26, 1844 1720 Jackson and Heidelberg Twps. North Annville Twp. July 30, 1845 Annville Twp. North Cornwall Twp. 1929 27 1737 Cornwall Twp. North Lebanon Twp. March 18, 1840 Lebanon Twp. North Londonderry Twp. March 16, 1894 Londonderry Twp. South Annville Twp. July 30, 1845 Annville Twp. South Lebanon Twp. 1840 Lebanon Twp. South Londonderry Twp. March 16, 1894 Londonderry Twp. Swatara Twp. 1813 About 1737 Bethel and Hanover Twps. Union Twp. September 26, 1842 About 1738 East Hanover Twp. West Cornwall Twp. March 13, 1893 Cornwall Twp. Sources: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 2006; Pennsylvania Department of Internal Affairs, 1965 *Source indicates both dates **1965 publication states, “Township Commissioners indicate both dates”

The early 20 th century was a settling period of sorts. The transportation routes were in place and the population, commerce, and industry centers were firmly established. A list of dates of incorporation for the county and its municipalities is shown in Table 7-1. From this point on, the majority of the growth in the county radiated from established towns and villages. Bethlehem Steel Corporation had a large presence in Lebanon County. In 1916, Bethlehem Steel acquired American Iron and Steel Manufacturing Company and the Cornwall Iron Mines. It was also during this time that George Herman “Babe” Ruth made his home on Locust Street in Lebanon. In 1918, a number of ballplayers were drafted into the armed forces to support the Country in WWI; some left their teams to work in war production facilities to escape the draft. Ruth played

26 Derry Township Historical Society. 27 North Cornwall Township website. http://www.geocities.com/northcornwalltownship/About.html

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baseball for the Bethlehem Steel League and worked in the steel mill in Lebanon following the 1918 Red Sox World Series victory. Ruth only remained in town for approximately eight weeks and left shortly after the Armistice.

Fort Indiantown Gap was first established by the state in 1931 as the primary training base for the Pennsylvania National Guard. Beginning in 1940, most of its 19,000 plus acres were leased to the federal government for military training purposes. During WWII, seven army divisions trained at the Gap enroute to overseas service.

The development of the interstate highway system and a nationwide move to the suburbs characterized the 1950s and 1960s. Lebanon County residents were greeted by presidential candidate John F. Kennedy in 1960 when he visited the county. The Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority was created in 1957 and the area saw its first shopping mall, The Plaza, erected in 1966. Also in 1966, land was purchased for the Alcoa plant, representing the first outside large scale employer to come into the county. The following year, Lebanon County and City administrations moved four blocks to the south to their current location in the City-County Municipal Building. It was also during the early 1960s that many of the school districts in the county consolidated. The Eastern Lebanon County School District (ELCO), the Cornwall-Lebanon School District, and the Northern Lebanon School District were all formed during this period.

Lebanon County saw its first interstate highway interchange, that of Interstate 81 and Interstate 78 , in 1971. The following year, flooding from Hurricane Agnes lead to the abandonment of the north-south railroads in the county and demanded that a greater emphasis be placed on stormwater management. The dedication of the Hazel Dyke Flood Protection Program in Lebanon in 2002 represented the last section of the Flood Protection Project constructed by the City of Lebanon following the 1972 floods. 28 The 1970s also marked the period when many Cuban and Vietnamese Refugees were housed at Fort Indiantown Gap. The decade concluded with the incident at Three Mile Island (TMI) in March of 1979. Many evacuees from the immediate vicinity of TMI sought shelter in Lebanon County during the emergency situation.

The Bethlehem Steel Corporation began facing pressure from world-wide competitors in the 1980s as cheaper, foreign steel began to be imported. Lighter and lower construction styles that did not require the heavier construction grades produced in the main plant at Bethlehem negatively impacted the entire company. In 1982, the company reported a loss of $1.5 billion dollars and was forced to shut down many of its operations, including the Lebanon Mill, in the coming years.

Employment at the Alcoa plant peaked at 366 in 1992, but the corporation announced the closing of the Lebanon County plant on October 24, 2001, citing the need for cut-back in a sluggish market. The plant closed the following year.

Between 1962 and 1994, several major improvements were made to the water supply system for the City of Lebanon, including the construction of a 10 million gallon per day water treatment plant at Rockwood, and several multi-million gallon storage tanks. All of the water that is delivered to more than 50,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in and around the City of Lebanon is filtered and treated to meet or exceed regulatory agency standards. In 1993, the City replaced the High Bridge Dam with the Christian E. Siegrist Dam and Reservoir, which is just downstream from the High Bridge Dam and retains 1.2 billion gallons of water. 29

The Haak Brother’s Department Store, known to many as simply Haak’s, closed its doors for the last time in 1981. The store had been located in downtown Lebanon since 1893. The building was purchased by Harrisburg Area Community College in 1989 and was destroyed by fire in November of 1990. The college rebuilt the facility on the site and is an active partner in the downtown area today.

The acquisition of land for Swatara State Park was completed in 1987, sixteen years after the effort by the Commonwealth began. The development of the State Park is ongoing; however, the 2003 Master Plan recommends "minimal intrusion” and “conservation design”, thus eliminating the construction of a dam and reservoir and only developing a small portion of the park (6.5% or 228 acres).

Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program was developed in 1988 to slow the loss of farmland to development, to retain our agricultural heritage, and to ensure land for food production for generations to come. By March 31, 2006, there were 10,000 acres of preserved farmland in Lebanon County. 30

28 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection 29 City of Lebanon Department of Public Works. 30 Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

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The county's proud history and assets are symbols of community building as well as inspiration for future progress for the decades and generations ahead. As the 21 st century moves forward, individuals, business and industry, government and non- profit organizations will continue to shape Lebanon County. Their ideas, aspirations, and actions will comprise the yet-to-be- written history of the county and create new landmarks in the county.

Cultural Values

As noted above, the Scotch-Irish and the Germans were Lebanon Valley’s original settlers. These two cultures established the original developed landscape of Lebanon County, though many of the Scotch-Irish later departed due to language and civic differences with the Germans. The Germans, or Pennsylvania Dutch, were and are a strong-willed people. Their history in the mid-Atlantic region has ranged from poor servants indentured by the Quakers to good farmers and industrious workers. They are also known for their stalwart religious beliefs, anti-regulatory/anti-government stance, and resistance to change. The Amish and Mennonite communities throughout south central Pennsylvania are present-day examples of such stringent beliefs.

The end of the 19 th and early 20 th centuries brought about an influx of Eastern European immigrants to America. Many of these immigrants that settled in the City of Lebanon located close to the steel employment in the northeast portion of the city. For example, settlers from various regions of Serbia arrived in the Lebanon area in 1902, and in 1915, a meeting was held to discuss plans for building a church and adjacent church hall to serve this segment of the community. The church was finished the following year and still stands today at 120 East Weidman Street. During this time, the Serbian culture was very prominent in this area of the city; however, after the steel industry started to fade and employment sources left this portion of the city, this group of people started to disperse.

When Bethlehem Steel Company discovered a second subsurface iron ore body and subsequently sank two underground shafts to extract the ore, a new breed of worker was introduced to the region. Underground miners had a much different attitude toward life since they fully expected to be injured or killed in the mines at any point in time. Records indicate that from 1923-1973, 33 miners were killed and 873 seriously injured, with most of the fatalities occurring between 1920 and 1940, before safety standards were implemented. 31

Much of the county today is supported by an economy centered on agriculture, thus lifestyle tends to be of a more rural nature. The county is a leader in livestock and dairy products (sixth in the state) and an important grain producer. It is one of only four counties in the state in which half or more of the area is farmed. 32 Agriculture’s legacy is reflected in the 12 century farms, farms owned by the same family for more than 100 years.

Ever increasing diversity can be found in the City of Lebanon. As the Hispanic and Latino population continues to grow, so do the cultural offerings that this group brings with it. The community at large offers resources for its Spanish speaking residents including a Spanish section in the Lebanon Community Library, Radio Omega, several Spanish grocery stores and restaurants and a bakery. 33

An increasing Asian presence is also evident in Lebanon County. In the county, the number of Asian individuals increased from 917 in 1990 to 1,067 in 2000, an increase of 16.4%. Until 2002, Lebanon County was considered to be part of the Harrisburg – Lebanon – Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Between 1990 and 2000, the MSA had a 56.51% increase in the number of Asian residents. The total population of Asian Americans living in the MSA rose from 6,160 to 9,641. The estimated number of Asian Americans living in the MSA in 2004 was 12,520, an estimated increase of 29.86% since 2000. 34

31 Cornwall Borough Comprehensive Plan, prepared by the Lebanon County Planning Department, 1990. 32 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. 33 The Patriot News. “Latino group opens information hub.” Published July 14, 2005. 34 U.S. Census Bureau

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Inventory of Historic and Cultural Resources

The Bureau for Historic Preservation manages the National Register of Historic Places for Pennsylvania. The program was established by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Properties listed in the Register include districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that are significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. National Register properties are distinguished by having been documented and evaluated according to uniform standards. These criteria recognize the accomplishments of those who have contributed to the history and heritage of the United States and are designed to help state and local governments, federal agencies, and others identify significant historic and archeological properties worthy of preservation and of consideration in planning and development decisions. Such designation often changes the way communities perceive their historic resources and gives credibility to efforts to preserve these resources as irreplaceable parts of our communities. Listing in the National Register, however, does not interfere with a private property owner’s right to alter, manage, or dispose of property.35

Properties and historic districts in Lebanon County that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places are shown in Table 7-2. A brief description, largely adapted from the National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination form for each property, follows. There are several other properties which are eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. These properties are listed in Table 7-3.

Annville Historic District (Annville Township)

The town of Annville is located on the north bank of the Quittapahilla Creek. The Quittapahilla meanders through the Lebanon Valley and in the Annville area, was easily dammed as a source of water power. The original impetus to settlement was the location of several grist mills, which served the surrounding agricultural community.

The Annville Historic District is an excellent example of a linear community which developed along early roads and waterways. It contains a wide variety of architectural styles and building practices that were prevalent in central Pennsylvania in the 18 th and 19 th centuries. Many of the buildings merit individual recognition and collectively, the buildings present an outstanding picture of the settlement and growth of the small town from the primitive log cabins to the Georgian stone houses and taverns, to the standard frame workers’ houses to the imposing Victorian mansions of the 19 th century industrialists.

Annville was formally laid out in 1763-64 by Andrew Miller, Adam Ulrich, and Abraham Raiguel. Prior to that date, the settlement was erratic, with houses clustered near the mills along the creek. The oldest remaining building is the small, 1½ story stone house (1753) known as the Mary Gass house at Cumberland and King Streets. The earliest name for the settlement was Millerstown, which was replaced by the name Annville. Legend has it that the town was either named after Miller’s wife, or after Queen Anne, patroness of the Palatine Germans, who made up many of the original inhabitants.

The town originally functioned as an agricultural service community for the rich farmland to the south. Small manufacturing establishments developed in the 19 th century and for a short time, Annville was an important center for the manufacture of silk and felt hats.

Today, Annville Township has an Historic District Ordinance in place that controls development and redevelopment of properties in the District. The township operates with an advisory Historic Architectural Review Board that advises the Annville Township Commissioners of the appropriateness of requested alterations to properties in the District.

Biever House (Annville Township)

The Biever House is located at 49 South White Oak Street in Annville Township. The Biever family arrived in Annville circa 1800 and quickly became a leading family in the community. John D. Biever (1812-1880) held several political offices and operated a large tanning establishment south of his residence.

The Biever House is an excellent example of the rural Georgian style house. It displays some excellent craftsmanship in the wood work of the main doorway. The house is also one of three stone houses in the community that displays an extensive use of pick work in the decoration of doorways, cornice and window frames. The interior of the house has been divided into three apartments, but some of the interior wood work still survives.

35 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

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Table 7-2: National Register of Historic Places Listed Properties in Lebanon County Municipality Property Name Address Date Listed Annville-Cleona SD Quittapahilla Creek, Lebanon, Saylor, Annville Township Annville Historic District 4/30/1979 Marshall Sts. Annville Township Biever House 49 S. White Oak St. 2/14/1978 Cornwall-Lebanon SD Cornwall Borough Cornwall Iron Furnace* Rexmont Rd. & Boyd St. 11/3/1966 North Cornwall Township Gloninger Estate 2511 W. Oak St. 12/10/1980 North Lebanon Township Union Canal Tunnel* West of Lebanon off of Pa 72 4/19/1994 ELCO SD Heidelberg Township Bomberger's (Michter’s) Distillery* Off 501 Southwest of Schaefferstown 1/16/1980 Heidelberg Township Brendle Farms Junction of Routes 501&897, Schaefferstown 7/24/1972 Heidelberg Township Erpff, Philip, House S. Market St. Schaefferstown 11/20/1979 Heidelberg Township Rex House North Market St. Schaefferstown 8/11/1980 Jackson Township Immel, John, House Flanagan Rd. 4/17/1980 Jackson Township Tulpehocken Manor Plantation Rte. 422, 2 mi. west of Myerstown 5/12/1975 Newmanstown,Kleinfeltersville & Millcreek Township House of Miller at Millbach 4/23/1973 Stricklerstown Rds. Millcreek Township Zeller, Heinrich, House Off Route 419, west of Newmanstown 5/12/1975 Myerstown Borough Meier, Isaac, Homestead 520 S. College St. 4/2/1973 Lebanon SD Lebanon City Chestnut Street Log House 1110 Chestnut St. 11/20/1978 Lebanon City Cornwall and Lebanon Railroad Station 161 N. 8th St. 12/4/1974 Lebanon City Funck, Josiah, Mansion 450 Cumberland St. 1/31/1980 Lebanon City Reading Railroad Station N. 8th St. 7/17/1975 Lebanon City Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church 6th St. & Chestnut St. 9/4/1974 Lebanon City Tabor Reformed Church 10th St. & Walnut St. 6/27/1980 Northern Lebanon SD Swatara/Union Townships Waterville Bridge Appalachian Trail, Swatara Gap 11/14/1988 Palmyra Area SD North Londonderry Township Bindnagles Evangelical Lutheran Church Junction Gravel Hill & Pine Rds. 7/7/1975 Palmyra Borough Landis Shoe Company Building Northwest Corner N. Chestnut & E. Broad St. 8/29/1980 South Londonderry Township Stauffer, Dr. B. House 192 W. Main St., Campbelltown 6/22/1979 Source: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission * National Historic Landmark

Cornwall Iron Furnace National Historic Landmark (Cornwall Borough)

The Cornwall Iron Furnace National Historic Landmark District exemplifies the type of iron-making complex that manufactured most of America’s iron from the Revolution through the Civil War era. The furnace itself, which operated from 1742 to 1883, was one of the country’s major producers of cast iron in the colonial period. It is probably the best preserved charcoal furnace in the United States. The Cornwall Ore Banks, mined continuously from 1742 to 1974, constituted the largest known deposit of iron ore in the country until the discovery of the Mesabi Range in 1887. The well designed and well constructed surviving buildings, including the furnace and ancillary buildings, the iron master’s mansion and a miner’s village, reflect the financial success and pride of America’s early iron making dynasties.

Cornwall Iron Furnace National Historic Landmark District is located in Cornwall Borough in the southern section of Lebanon County and contains three interrelated major elements. The first is the “plantation,” which includes the furnace and its associated buildings and the ironmaster’s mansion. The second is the adjacent open pit mine, which provided the ore that the furnace was built to exploit. The third is a village consisting mainly of stone double residences that were built to house workers.

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The furnace lies to the northern end of the site and has been very well preserved. It is a hill furnace and consists of two large sandstone buildings, linked by an open wooden gallery. The steam engine and other machinery installed in the mid- nineteenth century are still in place, as are many of the implements used by the furnace workers. Northwest of the furnace, across Rexmont Road, is the entrance to the Cornwall Mansion, the ironmaster’s house, now part of a retirement complex.

Beyond the furnace’s ancillary buildings, Boyd Street swings southeast toward Minersvillage, skirting the eastern border of the open pit mine. The road itself has been moved considerably to the east since 1955 to allow for expansion of the mine. In the 230 years it was worked, its appearance was altered considerably. The mine is over 400 feet deep and is rimmed with trees. Since mining operations ceased in 1974, the pit has filled with water to approximately half its depth. Flooding as a result of Hurricane Agnes in 1972 largely contributed to the cessation of mining operations at this site.

Boyd Street runs through Minersvillage, in a general east-west direction, terminating east of the village at Route 322. Development of the village appears to have proceeded from west to east. Two frame houses at the west end appear to date from the first half of the nineteenth century. In contrast, the frame houses at the east end were constructed some 20 to 30 years later than most of the buildings in the village.

Brendle Farms (Heidelberg Township)

Brendle Farms, also referred to as the Alexander Schaeffer Farm and the Sheetz Farm, are located at the intersection of State Routes 501 and 897 in Heidelberg Township. The Schaeffer and Sheetz Homesteads possess several features worthy of note. First, the two farms are set in an environment worthy of preservation for open space and ecological conservation. Second, they are excellent examples of the 18 th century cultural pattern in this area. Third, the Lower Farm (Sheetz Farm) is the birthplace of the Reverend Thomas R. Brendle, whose collection of Pennsylvania German folklore, now in the possession of Historic Schaefferstown, Inc., is unsurpassed in its scope and completeness. The Lower Farm was also the site of the Sheetz murder, an incident which has occupied an important position in the folklore of the area.

There is considerable evidence of an alcoholic beverage industry in Schaefferstown in the 18 th century. The Alexander Schaeffer farmstead is the only Pennsylvania house located (as of 1972) to retain evidence of the pot still.

Bomberger’s (Michter’s) Distillery (Heidelberg Township)

Bomberger’s Distillery, also known as Michter’s Distillery, is located 7 miles southwest of Newmanstown along PA Route 501. The distillation of spirituous liquors is a major American industry, and the Bomberger Distillery, whose origins can be traced back to 1753, is both the nation’s oldest distillery and a primary extant example of a small-scale commercial distilling operation. Although whiskey had been produced and consumed in limited quantities in the colonies since late in the 17 th century, it did not begin to displace rum as the favorite hard liquor until around the time of the Revolution.

Bomberger’s also represents the transformation of whiskey distilling from an agricultural enterprise, carried on in conjunction with other farming activities, to the status of a full scale industry in its own right. When John and Michael Shenk constructed the first distillery on the site in 1753, it was only an adjunct to their gristmill and other farming operations, and most of its output probably was consumed in the neighboring vicinity. During the 1780’s however, Michael Shenk’s son-in- law, Rudolph Meyer, took over the operation, added two new stills, and began to concentrate on distilling in response to the demand of neighboring farmers that their grain be converted to alcohol so that it could be profitably marketed. By the time the property passed to other Shenk relatives, John Kratzer who operated the distillery from 1827 to 1860, and Abe Bomberger, whose family ran it from 1861 to 1919, distilling had become a full time operation almost entirely divorced from farming. Prohibition forced the distillery’s closure in 1919. The repeal of Prohibition (1933) brought new owners to the property. While they erected several larger-scale buildings at the distillery, they retained the original buildings and distillation process. In 1978 the property was sold to Michter’s who operated it until 1989 when Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection was sought. In 1991 this landmark and tourist attraction was abandoned by its owners and foreclosure took place. Title to the property has changed several times since then; however, it currently remains vacant. The Bomberger Distillery commemorated the whiskey making techniques of the Swiss Mennonites and was the last surviving link to the period of 1780 to 1840 when Pennsylvania led the nation in whiskey distilling. In 1810 the state had 3,594 distilleries which produced over 6.5 million gallons of whiskey. As of its designation as a National Historic Landmark by the Department of Interior in June 1980, it was the oldest distillery site still operating in the United States.

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Philip Erpff House (Heidelberg Township)

The Erpff house is a 2½ story limestone structure with a gable roof, located on South Market Street in Schaefferstown. The house is typical of the building styles, techniques and materials of rural, Germanic tradition of Lebanon County. The house was built about 1750-1780 by Philip Erpff (Erb). He and his wife came to this country as redemptioners and gradually became very prosperous. They were prominent members of the community and of the Lutheran Church.

The house was bought in 1843 by Abraham Rex, also a prominent member of the community. He was married to Elizabeth Schaeffer, granddaughter of Henry Schaeffer, founder of the town. The house remained in possession of the descendants of Abraham Rex until at least 1970, but ownership has since passed out of the family. The house, outbuildings and grounds are in excellent condition and have changed very little over the years.

Rex House (Heidelberg Township)

The Rex House, located on North Market Street in Schaefferstown, is a unique survival of a half-timbered structure which was once common in Lebanon County and usually is associated with the Pennsylvania German Culture. The unusual and fine hardware, stenciling and cabinet work made this structure interesting. Alexander Schaeffer, the founder of Schaefferstown, owned this house and sold it in 1758 to Paul Gemberling. The house was apparently built before Schaeffer’s time, and local legend claims that it may have been built by Jewish fur traders who settled in the area. Samuel Rex bought the house in 1799. The Rex family was very prominent, prosperous merchants for many generations.

John Immel House (Jackson Township)

The John Immel House, located on Flanagan Road in Myerstown is a 2 ½ story L-shaped dwelling that is made of limestone. The house was built in 1814 and bears a decorative date-stone that reads, “Build by John and Elizabeth Immel 1814.” It is set into an arch on interspersed brick and limestone and above the inscription, a heart sprouts three flowers composed of intertwined circles bearing ‘quaint stamens and ball shaped petals.’ 36 John Immel was the direct descendant of one of the original Palatinate immigrants and John and Elizabeth Immel were very influential members of the community, holding various governmental and religious positions. The structure was accepted onto the National Register of Historic Places for its agricultural significance. The John Immel House was a good example of the early houses in this area, but was destroyed by fire circa 1980-1981. 37

Tulpehocken Manor Plantation (Jackson Township)

The Tulpehocken Manor Plantation is located on Route 422, about 2 miles west of Myerstown. The tract of land was purchased by Christopher Ley and Jacob Lower in 1738 and consisted on 240 acres, compared to the 150 acres that comprises it today. Between 1740 and 1745, they built two bank houses (spring houses), an excellent example of the European influence on early American architecture. The bank houses were constructed of limestone. Small springs, sheltered by 7 foot central arches, flowed through the spring houses and provided the food storage area and kitchen with water. Michael Ley, Christopher’s son, built the Georgian mansion house with an eight room floor plan and central hall in 1769 of limestone and large red sandstone quoins. Michael Ley was an important merchant and colonel during the Revolutionary War. He was a friend of George Washington, who visited the mansion many times between 1777 and 1794. The property is privately owned and maintained.. In 1883, the mansion was remodeled and enlarged by Samuel Ulrich including the addition of the long part of the house, the two story porches and balconies, and much Victorian detail. The mansion has not been altered much since this remodeling. In addition to a large stone quarry, other features of the property include two barns, several sheds, two corn cribs, a sheep cote, a greenhouse, cider house, cob house, granary, smokehouse, washhouse and outhouse.

Chestnut Street Log House (Lebanon City)

George Steitz received two warrants for land, one in 1737 and another in 1741, on which he laid out lots for a village. He began to sell these lots around 1750. The community was first known as Steitztown, and later as Lebanon, and by 1772, there were 200 dwellings in the village. The Chestnut Street Log House is the only known house remaining that dates to circa

36 Mohn, Viola Kohl. Shadows of the Rhine Along the Tulpehocken.. 1970 37 Historic Preservation Trust of Lebanon County.

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1772. The house is a 1½ story central fireplace log structure on a limestone foundation. From architectural investigation, it appears that the log superstructure was raised 1½ feet circa 1850 to conform to the level of the surrounding houses. It is owned by the City of Lebanon and administered by the Historic Preservation Trust of Lebanon County.

Cornwall and Lebanon Railroad Station (Lebanon City)

The Cornwall and Lebanon Railroad Station, located at 161 North 8 th Street (west side), was built by the iron ore millionaire, Robert Coleman. The station was designed by architect George Watson Hewitt, in partnership with his brother William. William was for many years Dean of Architects in Philadelphia, having designed such structures as the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, Academy of Fine Arts, and Hahnemann Hospital.

Architecturally, this structure represents an outstanding example of late nineteenth century eclectic Victorian architecture. The combination of Flemish, Romanesque and Chateauesque architecture offers an interesting blend of Victorian styles. The wealth of the builder, Robert Coleman allowed an architectural quality unique among small town railroad stations. It is also unusual that a grand structure such as the Cornwall and Lebanon Station was built for a railroad with only 22 miles of track.

Josiah Funck Mansion (Lebanon City)

The Josiah Funck Mansion, 450 Cumberland Street, is one of the best preserved buildings of its period and style in Lebanon. It is a fine example of the Second Empire Style, built by one of the wealthier and more important residents of the city during the 19 th century. The well preserved structure is a three story brick building. The second floor is topped by a heavy brochette cornice and a mansard roof containing the third floor. The mansion is currently home to the Lebanon Women’s Club.

Josiah Funck, a native of Lebanon County, was one of the top lawyers in eastern Pennsylvania during the latter half of the 19 th century. He held various public offices including District Attorney of Lebanon County in 1854. At the time of his death, he was Dean of the Lebanon County Bar. Gloninger Estate (North Cornwall Township)

The Gloninger Estate, located at 2511 West Oak Street in the City of Lebanon, is an example of the typical Swiss-German architecture of the mid to late 1700s. The house is one of the oldest limestone homes in Lebanon County. It was constructed in a bank of limestone rock. A limestone cave lies out the back door; the entrance to it is across the street.

The house was built and inhabited for many years by the Gloninger family. The builder of the house was a colonel in the Revolutionary Militia. Descendants were prominent doctors in the area and Philadelphia. Dr. Andrew Gloninger was the founder of one of Lebanon’s major hospitals, the Lebanon Sanitorium, now the Hyman Caplan Pavilion of the Good Samaritan Hospital.

Reading Railroad Station (Lebanon City)

The Reading Railroad Station, located on the east side of North 8 th Street in Lebanon City, was designed by Wilson Brothers and Company, Architects and Engineers, of Philadelphia. The station is one of the finest works of Joseph M. Wilson, the principal architect in the firm. He was also responsible for Machinery Hall at the Exposition of 1876, the Drexel Institute, and the Reading Terminal itself. The firm was quite prominent in the railroad engineering and architecture with stations and shops on the Philadelphia and Reading, the Lehigh Valley, and the Central Railroad of New Jersey lines.

By 1858, the Lebanon Valley Railroad, which ran from Reading through Lebanon to Harrisburg, a distance of 54 miles, had come under the control of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. The Philadelphia and Reading line was incorporated by the Reading Company in 1896, and the Reading Railroad Station in Lebanon was built by the company in 1900.

Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church (Lebanon City)

Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church, constructed in 1880, is an unusually sophisticated Gothic Revival building, particularly for the area in which it is located. The structure is located at 6th and Chestnut Streets and was funded by the Coleman family, who acquired their fortune in the Cornwall iron ore mines. Both the exterior and interior of the church display the finest in construction and craftsmanship. The Church is constructed in the form of a Latin cross and is 116 feet long and 75 feet wide. The foot of the cross faces west. The predominant wall fabric is native bluestone, quarried only a few yards from the site.

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Tabor Reformed Church (Lebanon City)

The Tabor Reformed Church, located at 10 th and Walnut Streets in Lebanon City, is a 2½ story native limestone building, erected in 1792 to replace its log predecessor which was constructed in 1760 and destroyed by lightning on June 6, 1792. The Tabor Reformed Church, named after a mountain in Galilee, is a good example of a colonial Central Pennsylvanian Church constructed of local materials. Tabor is the oldest standing church in the City of Lebanon and although a large chapel was attached in 1914, the original 18 th century form has not been obscured.

Miller House at Millbach (Millcreek Township)

The Miller House, also known as the Mueller House and Illig’s Mill is located in Newmanstown. The structure, which bears a date stone of 1752, is of Germanic influence. It is 2½ stories high with a double attic. It is made of cut limestone with red sandstone used in the quoins and radiating arches over the first floor windows and doors. The mill is an excellent representation of the coordination of small industry with the family. The mill is directly attached to the house and both form an ‘L’ shape. Parts of the mill are still on the property.

Heinrich Zeller House (Millcreek Township)

The Heinrich Zeller House, also known as Fort Zeller, is located west of Newmanstown, off of Route 419. The Zeller, or Sellaire, family fled the Alsatian region of France shortly after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The Sellaire family castle still stands on a wooded crag north of Strasbourg. As with many other French Huguenots, the Zellers fled to Holland, and then to England, before arriving in New York in 1710. In 1723 they moved to the present Mount Gretna area of Lebanon County. The date on the present structure is 1745, although existing nearby foundations of a log structure indicate earlier activity on the property.

The house has not been seriously altered and still preserves most of its original appearance. Its Alsatian / Swiss appearance gives ample evidence of the persistence of European tradition. The property is well maintained and presently operates as a small museum. Isaac Meier Homestead (Myerstown Borough)

The Isaac Meier Homestead is a 2½ story limestone structure built circa 1750, and located at 520 South College Street in Myerstown Borough. It was also known as The Old Fort. Isaac Meier was the founder of Myerstown and his home was one of the first in the town. The land that is now Myerstown was purchased by Casper Wistar, the brass button maker of Philadelphia, from Thomas Penn, Esq. in 1735. Valentine Herglerode bought 249 acres from Wistar and built a house which served as an Indian fort and as the home of Isaac Meier. Herglerode’s house was probably the small, 20 feet square east wing of the present Meier home. Parts of the original Herglerode house were incorporated into the existing building. The present kitchen and west fireplace in the kitchen are believed to have been enlarged later. Isaac Meier bought the 249 acres from Herglerode and an additional 250 acres in 1757-58 and began selling lots and laying out a town. By 1768, Tulpehockentown became Myerstown. Isaac Meier was also magistrate of the area and Overseer of the Poor. He gave the land for the first school house in Myerstown. The property is owned by Myerstown Borough and leased to the Historic Preservation Trust of Lebanon County. Restoration of the property began in 1970 and is a work in progress. Tours are available during special events and by appointment. 38

Union Canal Tunnel National Historic Landmark (North Lebanon Township)

The oldest existing tunnel in the United States is a local tourist attraction of national significance. It was tunneled out of solid rock under Pansy Hill on the northwest fringe of the City of Lebanon for the Union Canal which connected the Susquehanna River at Middletown with the Schuylkill River at Reading. The canal was planned to carry passengers and freight between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, facilitating commerce between Pennsylvania’s major urban center and the resource rich interior. Furthermore, the canal was regarded as a necessary first step in recapturing some of the commerce lost to New York State’s more ambitious Erie Canal. The tunnel, located on the summit of the canal, was originally 729 feet long when it was first completed in 1827. It was shortened to 600 feet when the tunnel was adapted to accommodate barges of 50 tons circa 1853.

38 Historic Preservation Trust of Lebanon County website, http://www.pioneerfamily.com/LebanonTrust/.

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With the completion of the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal in the mid 1830s, the Union Canal became a link in an even longer canal system leading all the way to Pittsburgh. Shortly thereafter, newer canals capable of carrying even larger barges began to take much of Pennsylvania’s barge commerce away from the Union Canal. After going bankrupt during the 1860s, the canal was purchased at auction by one of its most formidable competitors, the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, who finally abandoned the canal in 1885. Beginning in 1950, the Lebanon County Historical Society began acquiring parcels of land which include the tunnel and the adjacent canal, which actually mark the summit of the canal between Middletown and the Schuylkill River. The Historical Society preserves and maintains the tunnel, a short section of watered canal and the 100+ acre park surrounding the site for the education and enjoyment of the community. Efforts continue to acquire and preserve at least adjacent segments of the canal north of the park. These segments would include a series of three canal locks, which could be restored and add to the historic significance of the park.

Bindnagles Evangelical Lutheran Church (North Londonderry Township)

Bindnagles Church is a manifestation of the religious character of early German settlers in the Lebanon Valley of Pennsylvania. When a significant number of these immigrants were established in a location, they organized a church congregation. Standing today, three miles north of Palmyra as a monument to one of those early groups, is Bindnagles Evangelical Lutheran Church, erected in 1803.

In 1753, John Bindnagle donated five acres of land to the congregation along the Swatara. Soon after, a log church was built. In 1803, the present church was built and shared by two congregations who used it on alternate Sundays. A flatboat was even built for members living to the north and west of the Swatara Creek.

Bindnagles Church is a remarkably well preserved example of architecture in the late 18 th century Country Georgian style. The interior, painted to resemble marble, is particularly interesting and represents elements of the Baroque Revival.

Landis Shoe Company Building (Palmyra Borough)

For about 70 years, the manufacture of shoes was the most important industry in Palmyra. This first company was established in 1886, with Jacob Landis (1842-1917) as one of the original stockholders. The site for the factory building at Broad and Chestnut Streets was purchased by the Palmyra Boot and Shoe Factory from William L. and Catherine Kreider on November 30, 1888. This company failed, and on April 18, 1895, William H. Erb sold the business and its frame factory structure to Jacob Landis and his sons, David and Morris. The new business was organized as the J. Landis Sons Shoe Company; by 1904 the four story frame factory employed 90 and produced 500 pairs of shoes daily. At 3 a.m. on the morning of November 28, 1905, this building burned at a loss estimated at $100,000. On December 21, 1905, rebuilding plans were announced and all debris was cleared; by June, 1906, the southern part of the present structure was completed and the plant reopened.

At the time of the reopening in 1906, the company reorganized as the J. Landis Shoe Company. Soon production increased to about 2,000 pairs of shoes per day. In 1911, the northern section was added; employment rose to about 300 and production reached 3,000 pairs of shoes daily. In 1920, the company merged with the G.R. Kinney Company, Inc., and output increased to 4,000 pairs daily. The economic stature of the company remained secure into the 1930s, but both production and employment declined during the 1940s and 1950s. By 1955, the plant was no longer listed as an important industry in this part of Lebanon County. In August, 1963, the properties passed from the name of the J. Landis Shoe Company. The building has served no commercial or industrial functions since the late 1960s. Today, the building has been refurbished into high end apartments.

Dr. B. Stauffer House (South Londonderry Township)

Dr. B. Stauffer House, located at 192 West Main Street in Campbelltown, is a 2½ story brick structure with a hipped roof. The house is an excellent example of a mid 19 th century brick townhouse with significance in the local community as the home of the town doctor. Dr. Stauffer was born in Mastersonville, Lancaster County in 1825. He attended the school of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. At age 20, he settled in Campbelltown and began his practice. In 1848, he purchased 20 acres on which he erected a 9 room colonial brick house and small apothecary shop, where he made his own pills and mixed his own medicine. He served many people in nearby communities as a druggist. The apothecary shop is now gone, but local residents recall it as a source of interest because of the variety of bottles.

Waterville Bridge (Swatara/Union Townships)

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The Waterville Bridge is an example of an unusual truss type. Constructed by the Berlin Iron Bridge Company of East Berlin, Connecticut in 1890, this single span bridge has a lenticular truss which derives its name from the lens-like shape of its curved upper and lower chords. The 221 foot long pin-connected truss is made of typical members composed of channels, angles, eyebars and lacing bars. It features an unusually ornamental portal design. This lenticular truss bridge was originally located in Waterville, an unincorporated rural village in Cummings Township, Lycoming County. It carried State Route 44 over Little Pine Creek. The bridge was carefully disassembled after a girder structure was erected to support the bridge during this process. The truss members were numbered for identification, cleaned (by sandblasting), reinforced where necessary, and a primer coat was applied. In the summer of 1985, the truss members were transported to the new location and reassembled on new abutments for use as a pedestrian bridge on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail as it crosses the Swatara Creek north of Innwood. A new wooden deck was put on the bridge as it would have had originally and the bridge was repainted. Relocating the bridge saved it from being demolished by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in a bridge replacement project.

Table 7-3: National Register of Historic Places Eligible Properties in Lebanon County Municipality Property Name Address Date

Annville-Cleona SD

Lebanon Valley College Campus in Annville Township Carnegie Library 4/18/2003 Annville Center St. (S.R. 4002) at Conrail Cleona Borough Kreider Farm & Cemetery 9/6/1995 Railroad Cleona Borough Lebanon Valley Railroad 9/6/1995 North Annville Township Heilman, S., Property Russel Rd. 9/26/1990 North Annville Township Hill Evangelical Lutheran Church 998 North Mill St. 12/3/1982 North Annville Township Miller, H., Property Heilmandale Rd. 10/2/1990

Cornwall-Lebanon SD

Cornwall Borough Buckingham Mansion, Cornwall Manor Rte. 419 in Cornwall 5/5/1980 Cornwall Borough Cornwall School Rte. 419, Freeman Dr. 6/23/2005 Cornwall Borough Methodist Episcopal Church in Cornwall Rte. 419 (Cornwall Pike & Alden St.) 6/22/1982 Cornwall Borough Millwood – Alden Villa S.R. 419 east of S.R. 72 5/15/2003 Mount Gretna Borough Stengle's 117-119 Pennsylvania Ave. 6/14/1994 North Cornwall Township Kreider, M., Farm Oak St. Off 8/30/1990 Dairy Rd. South of 422 on East side of - North Cornwall Township Shank, C.H., House 9/26/1990 First North Cornwall Township Sprecher, Fredrich, Homestead S Garfield St. Cleona 7/8/1991 North Lebanon Township Eckert, Mary & Perter, House 15th Ave. 2/29/2000 North Lebanon Township Heilman, Samuel Phillip, Property Emma Rd. 9/26/1990 Center St. (S.R. 4002) at Conrail North Lebanon Township Kreider Farm & Cemetery 9/6/1995 Railroad 3181-3189 Tunnel Hill Rd. 3181 & 3189 North Lebanon Township Krieder, John, Farm 12/23/1987 (at O

South Lebanon Township Weiss House & Summer Kitchen Veterans Administration Medical Center 6/25/1981

Building 103 (Wengler House: V.A. Medical Lebanon Veterans Administration South Lebanon Township 6/25/1981 Center) Medical Center South Lebanon Township Horst Mill Complex 611 Rexmont Rd. 10/17/2000 Lebanon Veterans Administration Medical Off Lincoln Avenue and west side of South Lebanon Township 6/25/1981 Center State Drive. South Mountain Gravity Water Supply, South Lebanon Township Rexmont 10/17/2000 Rexmont Dams 39 West Cornwall Township Farmers Hope Inn, The 3180 Lebanon Rd. (Rte. 72) 5/30/2003 West Cornwall Township Quentin Riding Club Corner of Rte. 72 & Rte. 419 4/10/1995

39 The Rexmont Dams were removed and the South Mountain Gravity Water Supply reservoirs were drained in the early 21 st century however the historical significance of this site is unchanged. Rexmont Dam #1 (Lower Dam) was drained and breached in September of 2001.

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Municipality Property Name Address Date

ELCO SD

Heidelberg Township Bobb Property Private Drive off T -357 at T -359 12/20/1978 Heidelberg Township Franklin Inn N Market St. In Schaefferstown 7/6/1984 Heidelberg Township Iba, W./Lapp, Moses, Farmstead 321 Route 501 North 5/9/2002 Heidelberg Township Old Mill Rd. Historic District Old Mill Rd. 05/26/1992 Heidelberg Township Reistville Historic District Pa Rte.501 6/15/1988 Heidelberg Township Schaefferstown Historic District Main & Market Sts. 1/30/1984 Southeast Corner Sheephill Rd. & S. Heidelberg Township Schaefferstown Water Company 2/12/1987 Market St. Rte. 645, 1 mile North of Rte. 422 Jackson Township Bickle, Tobias, Homestead 8/7/1973 Intersection Jackson Township Breitenbach, John, House E Main St. East of Noacker South side 11/5/1986 Ramona Rd. (T -560) Just South of Rte. Jackson Township Immel, Johannes, Homestead 2/12/1987 422 Millcreek Township Saint Paul's United Church of Christ Millbach 6/19/1991

Lebanon SD 5th Ave., Railroad Line, Quittapahilla Lebanon City Bethlehem Steel Historic District 8/2/2000 Creek Cumberland, Chestnut, 6th, 7th, 8th, Lebanon City Cumberland Street Historic District 6/28/1990 9th Sts. East Chestnut St., Cumberland St., Lebanon City East Chestnut/Hathaway Park Historic District 6/28/1990 Roughly from 11 th St. to 2 nd St. Lebanon City Fisher Opera House (Academy Theater) 40 701 Cumberland St. 11/23/1987 Lebanon City Heilman Homestead 3056 Chestnut St. 8/7/1973 Lebanon City Herrmann, Aukam & Company 41 7th St. & Mifflin St. 9/2/1986 Quittapahilla Creek, 11th St., Federal Lebanon City Lebanon Central Business Historic District th 8/2/2000 St., 5 St. Lebanon City Lebanon Steel Foundry 42 19 E Lehman St. 12/9/1996 Bounded by Railroad, Creek, 14th St., Lebanon City North Lebanon Historic District 2/14/2001 2d St., Guilford St. Lebanon City Saint Mary's Parish School and Convent 736-740 Willow St. 4/2/2004 S 11th St. & 12th St., Washington St., Lebanon City Washington & 11th St./Oak & Elm St. District 6/28/1990 Oak St

Northern Lebanon SD

Cold Spring Township Schuylkill & Susquehanna Railroad Station 43 Cold Springs Rd. 10/18/1991 East Hanover Township East Hanover Roller Mill Mill Rd. & Rte.934 12/11/1984 East Hanover Township Fort Indiantown Gap Historic District Fort Indiantown Gap Military Res. 8/6/1999 East Hanover Township Quarters 10 Fort Indiantown Gap Military Res. 9/11/1992 Jonestown Borough Heilman, Lo, House 25-27 E Market St. 11/14/1997 Union Township Bamberger, E.J., House Fort Indiantown Gap 9/13/1995 Union Township Bordnersville Historic District S.R. 443 & Bordnersville Rd. 11/2/1995 Union Township Fort Indiantown Gap Historic District 8/6/1999 Union Township Range House 44 Range Rd. Fort Indiantown Gap 8/29/1994 Green Point School Rd. (T-617) , Union Township Sattazahn Evangelical Lutheran Church 6/24/1999 1 mile West of Rte. 443 Fort Indiantown Gap (Quartermaster Union Township Stevedore (Landing Ship) Training Site 12/19/1994 Rd. & Fisher Ave.) Union Township The State House-Lt. Gov. Residence Fort Indiantown Gap Military Res. 7/18/2005

40 This structure was razed. 41 This structure was razed in 2005. 42 This structure was razed. Several outbuildings still exist. 43 The Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad Station was removed from its original location and placed in the Stoy Museum 44 The Range House was relocated next to the Pennsylvania National Guard Museum.

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Municipality Property Name Address Date

Palmyra Area SD

North Londonderry Starner (formerly Shirk) Farm 393 Palmyra Bellgrove Rd. 12/19/1986 Township South Londonderry Bowman, S. W Rte. 322 10/30/2003 Township South Londonderry Brightbill, Abraham & Mary, Farmstead 660 S Lingle Ave. 10/30/2003 Township South Londonderry Brunner Farm Rte. 322, Campbelltown 9/18/1990 Township South Londonderry U.S. 322, School House Ln., Palmyra Campbelltown Historic District 10/30/2003 Township Rd., Lawn Rd. & Forge Rd. South Londonderry Intersection of Rte. 241 & Rte. 117 in Coleman, Robert, Mansion 8/17/1982 Township Colebrook South Londonderry Logan Farm S.R. 3011 2/12/1987 Township South Londonderry South Londonderry Township Building 20 W. Market St., Campbelltown 11/5/1986 Township South Londonderry Witmer, John & Hannah, Farm 640 S Lingle Ave. 10/30/2003 Township Source: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

From 1914 to 1933, the Pennsylvania Historical Commission, predecessor to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), installed bronze plaques to commemorate significant individuals, events, and landmarks throughout the state. However, during the 1920s and 1930s, with accelerated automobile speeds, these plaques became impossible to read from a moving vehicle. For this reason, the PHMC, created by state legislature in 1945, developed the modern style state historical marker.

Since its inception, the PHMC has adopted more stringent criteria for approval of state historical markers. The guidelines formulated in the late 1970s require “that the person, event or site to be commemorated have had a meaningful impact on its times and be of statewide or national significance rather than only local significance.” In December 1987, with the most recent revision of the program’s guidelines, the agency adopted a standard urging “that the significant subjects that have hitherto been given less attention by the Historical Marker Program receive more favorable consideration (other factors being equal) than subjects which have already had fuller coverage.” The program is striving to interpret ever more fully and fairly the great spectrum of Pennsylvania’s history, while monitoring technological changes and evolving concepts of safety, accessibility, and readability. 45

There are thirty two historical markers located throughout Lebanon County. Most of these markers are roadside markers, but the list includes city markers and a plaque as well. The historical markers in Lebanon County are listed, along with their text, in Table 7-4.

Table 7-4: Historical Markers in Lebanon County Marker Name Date Marker Location Category Marker Text Dedicated Type Blue Mountain December Roadside Jonestown Rd. Military, Native In 1763-64, from a line of six loghouse stations to Forts 1949 (old U.S. 22), American, French the north, settlers were defended by the Paxton near intersection & Indian War Rangers – volunteers paid by Pennsylvania’s with Pa. 934, at Provincial government. Fort Hunter was on the Harpers Tavern Susquehanna just north of Blue Mountain, and the other five stations were just south of the mountain – located at regular intervals over the 23 miles between the river and the Swatara Creek. A similar line of stations had existed, 1756-57. Cornwall Banks March 1947 Roadside Boyd St., Business & One of the world's greatest iron mines, the oldest Cornwall, at now Industry, Iron operated continuously in the New World. It has abandoned mine been mined for more than two centuries, and is still the greatest iron ore deposit east of Lake Superior.

45 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

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Marker Name Date Marker Location Category Marker Text Dedicated Type Cornwall August Roadside Rexmont Rd. at Business & Built by Peter Grubb. Operated from 1742 to Furnace 1948 site Industry, Iron 1883. Cornwall 1948 Roadside Boyd St. (old U.S. Business & Charcoal iron furnace built by Peter Grubb, Furnace 322) in Cornwall Industry, Iron operated 1742-1883. Best surviving example of the early Pennsylvania ironworks. Now a State historical shrine, gift of Mrs. Margaret Coleman Buckingham, heir of its famous owner, Robert Coleman. Cornwall Roadside US 322 near Pa Business & Built in 1742 by Peter Grubb near an immensely Furnace 419 turnoff to Industry, Iron rich ore deposit and acres of forest for making Quentin charcoal fuel. A self-sufficient community included the ironmaster’s mansion and workers’ houses. The furnace produced pig iron and cast goods, and cannons for the Revolutionary War. Sold in 1798 to entrepreneur Robert Coleman; operated until 1883. It survives fully intact a few miles east at Cornwall. Fort Swatara July 1999 Roadside Pa. 72 near Military, Native Originally built by Peter Hedrick, 1755. The Lickdale American, Forts, stockaded blockhouse was improved in early French & Indian 1756 by Capt. Frederick Smith to guard Swatara War Gap and protect the frontier settlements. The site is on Bohn Lane about a half mile from the intersection. Fort Zeller March 1947 Roadside Pa. 419 (Main Military, Native The State's oldest existing fort is half a mile to St.) at Mill Creek American, Forts, the north. Pioneers who came to the AveNW corner of French & Indian Tulpehocken from the Schoharie valley built it in intersection of War 1723, rebuilt it in 1745. It was used as a place of Fort Zeller Road refuge during Indian wars. and Route 419*., Newmanstown Grubb's First June 1967 Roadside Boyd St. & Gold Business & Peter Grubb (c.1700-54) carried on his initial Forge Rd., Miners' Industry, Iron efforts at iron-making in 1735 just slightly to the Village, Cornwall north. He used the Catalan-type forge which had originated in Spain sometime during the tenth century. Indiantown March, Roadside Intersection Pa. Early Settlement, The native village from which, in turn, the Creek, 1947 934 & old U.S. Native American Gap, and great Military Reservation derived their 22, Harper names, formerly stood near here. The Delaware Tavern Indians took this route to Shamokin, upon their removal from the Schuylkill region. Indiantown Gap 1947 Roadside U.S. 22, 25 miles Cities & Towns, The Military Reservation is named for Indiantown NE of Harrisburg Native American Gap in the Blue Mountains, visible to the north of this point. An Indian town once stood at the mouth of Indiantown Creek, which flows through the Gap. Indiantown Gap March 1947 Roadside Asher-Miner Rd., Military, Military Authorized in 1929, first land bought in 1931, and Military 1.3 miles N of Post-Civil War first used by the National Guard in 1932. In 1940 Reservation U.S. 22 it was leased to the Federal government as an approaching Fort Army cantonment. The total area is now more Indiantown Gap, than 16,000 acres. Harper Tavern Indiantown Gap March 1947 Roadside U.S. 22 S of Fort Military, Military Authorized in 1929, first land bought in 1931, and Military Indiantown Gap, Post-Civil War first used by the National Guard in 1932. In 1940 Reservation junction Pa. 934, it was leased to the Federal government as an Harper Tavern Army cantonment. Total area now more than 16,000 acres. Jacob Albright June 1967 City Pa. 897 near Religion, Ethnic & The son of German immigrants, Jacob Albright Main & Shad Sts., Immigration (1759-1808) founded the Evangelical Kleinfeltersville Association, preached to poor farmers, and rose to become Bishop in the Methodist Church. His grave is nearby at Albright Memorial Church. James Lick March 1947 Roadside U.S. 22 near Professions & The California financier and philanthropist, donor junction Pa. 343 Vocations of the Lick Observatory, was born in just S of Fredericksburg, Aug. 21, 1796. The Lick family Fredericksburg monuments may be seen in the local cemetery.

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Marker Name Date Marker Location Category Marker Text Dedicated Type John Walter March 1947 Roadside Old U.S. 22 W of Religion, Music & Co-laborer of Jacob Albright in founding of Ono at cemetery Theater, Evangelical Church, born 1791, died 1818, is Publishing buried in this cemetery. An effective preacher and hymn writer, he published the first songbook for his church. Lebanon October City City-County Government & Formed on February 16, 1813 from Dauphin and County 1982 Municipal Bldg., Politics, Lancaster counties. Named for old Lebanon 400 S. 8th St., Government & Township, originally created 1729. Lebanon, Lebanon Politics 19th county seat, is dated from 1740. Early settlers Century began the building of a rich agricultural and religious heritage. Lindley Murray March 1947 Roadside U.S. 22, 18 miles Professions & Famous grammarian, author of the English NE of Harrisburg, Vocations, Grammar, was born June 7, 1745, in a house E of junction Pa. Education, near this point. Robert Murray, his father, owned 934 just N of Writers a mill here from 1745 to 1746. Harpers Tavern Lindley Murray March 1947 Roadside Intersection Pa. Professions & Famous grammarian, author of the English 934 & old U.S. Vocations, Grammar, was born June 7, 1745, in a house 22, Harper Education, near this point. Robert Murray, his father, owned Tavern Writers a mill here from 1745 to 1746. Lindley Murray March 1947 Roadside Pa. 934, .2 mile N Professions & Famous grammarian, author of the English of U.S. 22, Vocations, Grammar, was born June 7, 1745, in a house Harper Tavern Education, near this point. Robert Murray, his father, owned Writers a mill here from 1745 to 1746. One Red Rose 1930 Plaque Old US 422 Religion One red rose is annually paid by Trinity - PLAQUE between Reformed Church to the heirs of Casper Wistar, Millardsville Rd. & of Philadelphia, who in 1738 gave one hundred Berks County acres of land for church purposes. The line, Myerstown congregation was formed by Reformed families among the Tulpehocken settlers... The August Roadside Pa. Route 117 Religion, One of over 200 Chautauquas created as part of Pennsylvania 2002 and Carnegie Education, Artists, a late 19 th , early 20 th C. movement that began in Chatauqua Ave., Mt. Gretna Medicine & 1874 at Lake Chatauqua, NY. It grew to include Science many programs in the arts, sciences and religion and sought to educate people of all social standings. The PA Chautauqua opened here in 1892 on land that was later purchased from industrialist Robert Coleman; over time a number of public buildings were constructed to further its mission. Reed's Fort December Roadside U.S. 22, 19.2 Military, Native Just south of this point stood the house of Adam 1949 miles NE of American, French Reed, Esq. In 1755 it was turned into a fort. Harrisburg, Ono & Indian War Here, with Rangers from Hanover Township, Reed protected the people of the countryside against Indian raids. Sattazahn December Roadside At church on Religion, Ethnic & Founded by German immigrants who settled as Lutheran 1980 Green Point Immigration early as 1729. Initially served by traveling Church School Rd., N of missionaries including John Caspar Stoever, Jr., Pa. 443 near first Lutheran pastor to visit regularly. A log Murray structure was built about 1756; this church erected 1872. Named in honor of Peter Sattazahn, Revolutionary soldier buried here. Schaefferstown April 1995 Roadside Fountain Park at Business & One of North America's oldest documented Water S. Market St., Industry, public water systems. Alexander Schaeffer built Company Schaefferstown Environment a hotel on the square in 1744, and construction of the water system began shortly after. On July 16, 1763, he and his wife Anna Engle deeded this land--today Fountain Park--for the use of the inhabitants of Market Street. The present company was chartered in 1845 as successor to The Fountain Company of Heidelberg. Swatara Gap March 1947 Roadside Pa. 72, 2 miles N Native American, This gap in the Blue Mountain, named for of Lickdale Military, French & Swatara Creek, was a gateway through which Indian War enemy Indians came to raid frontier settlements during the French and Indian War. Fort Swatara was built nearby to guard it.

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Marker Name Date Marker Location Category Marker Text Dedicated Type Tulpehocken August Roadside U.S. 422, 3 miles Religion Organized in 1727 by Tulpehocken settlers. Evangelical and 1954 E of Myerstown Since 1745, one red rose has been paid annually Reformed by the Church to the heirs of Caspar Wistar as Church rental for the land granted by him for erection of the second place of worship. Since 1902, a white rose, a token of appreciation, has been given to Wistar's descendants. Union Canal January Roadside U.S. 422, 1 mile Transportation, This canal was in use from 1828-1884. About .3 1950 W of Myerstown Canals, mile south at the Tulpehocken, are remains of Navigation one of the locks by which boats descended from the summit level north of Lebanon to the Schuylkill at Reading. Union Canal September Roadside Pa. 72, 4 miles Transportation, Following the Swatara Creek from Pine Grove to 1950 NW of Lickdale, Canals, main line of the Canal at Water Works was a just S of junction Navigation Feeder Branch. It was in use from 1832-1862. A Pa. 443 portion of the Big Dam, a guard lock, and several lift locks remain on the other side of the Swatara. Union Canal April 1950 Roadside Pa. 72, 5 miles Transportation, After entering the reservoir at the Big Dam in NW of Lebanon Canals, Swatara Gap, water from Swatara Creek came Navigation down the branch canal to the Water Works, 3.7 miles southwest of here. At that point it was raised by water wheels and steam pumps and carried by a feeder tube to the summit level near Lebanon. From there the canal descended eastward to Reading and westward to Middletown. Union Canal March 1947 Roadside At site on Tunnel Transportation, Monument to first canal tunnel in America stands Tunnel Hill Rd. just W of Canals, not far up this road. Built in 1823 under this Rte. 72 north Navigation ridge, the tunnel may be reached by a short walk Lebanon down the hill on either side. The Union Canal was opened in 1827, and operated until 1884. Union Forge 1947 Roadside Lickdale Rd. just Business & Site of a charcoal iron forge begun about 1782 E of Pa. 72, Industry, Iron, by Curtis Grubb, owner of Cornwall Iron Furnace; Lickdale Coal a major user of Cornwall iron. Such forges transformed brittle pig iron into workable wrought iron. Union Forge included 1,000 acres of land, blacksmith and carpenter shops, a grist mill, and several houses. Under different owners, the forge was in regular operation until 1868. By then, rolling mills were displacing forges as refiners of iron. Source: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission *Address provided by Lebanon County Planning Department

Sites of Local Significance

In addition to the sites of national and state significance listed above, there are also several sites of local significance that exist throughout Lebanon County. One of those is Moonshine Church, located on Route 443 in Union Township, just north of Fort Indiantown Gap. Henry Moonshine (1760-1836) once owned a farm where Moonshine Church is now located. He donated one acre of land for a free burial ground when his son, John, died in 1822 at the young age of 14. Early in 1836, Moonshine began to build a foundation for a church but passed away in March of that year, leaving the foundation unfinished. The Moonshine community constructed the church, a log-style structure with clapboard covering, after his death. That original church was completely consumed by an early morning fire in 1961 and has been rebuilt since that time. Joseph Raber, victim of the infamous group of local murderers named the Blue-Eyed Six, is buried in the Moonshine Cemetery. Five of the Blue Eyed Six were hung in Lebanon, one was acquitted. Ghost stories have developed around the Blue Eyed Six. It is said that as one approaches Moonshine Cemetery, six pairs of blue eyes are visible in the distance.

Another northern Lebanon County church of historic significance is the Monroe Valley Chapel. This post-Revolutionary War era church and cemetery is situated adjacent to the Monroe Valley Golf Course. In 1993 a group of citizens concerned about the deteriorating condition of the landmark organized restoration efforts. A group of students, under the diligent leadership of their Northern Lebanon High School history teacher, tackled the task of not only clearing the property of

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underbrush and litter but also restoring the church itself. Community support and the cooperation of the Historic Preservation Trust continue to provide the financial means and manpower to completely restore the chapel. 46 Governor Dick, located near Mount Gretna is another landmark of local historical significance. The Park at Governor Dick has been named for the late Clarence Schock, a well-known petroleum baron and philanthropist. The park is comprised of 1,105 acres of woodland and is presently managed by a trusteeship of representatives from the Clarence Schock Foundation and the County of Lebanon. The six-member board is charged with the responsibility of managing the park consistent with the Deed of Trust and a Support Committee was established by the Board to assist with this. Governor Dick is a favorite recreation site for hiking, horseback riding and bicycling. Located in the park is a sixty-six foot circular observation tower which has proven to be a very popular attraction by the general public. On a clear day parts of Lebanon, Dauphin, York, Lancaster and Berks counties can be seen. 47 In 2003 construction of a 2,200 square foot environmental center was begun and was completed in May 2004. The center contains a multi-purpose room which is used for meetings and educational activities. In addition, there is an office and a ranger workstation area. Restrooms are available.

Light’s Fort, an 18th century (circa 1742) house constructed by immigrant Johannes Licht and later used for protection against local Indians, is located at 11th and Maple Streets in Lebanon City. The old fort is constructed of local gray limestone and is in the traditional early Pennsylvania German style. Interesting features of the structure are a vaulted, arched ceiling in the cellar, a fresh water spring running through the cellar and a hip roof. Johannes Licht, now known as John Light, was one of the earliest settlers of Lebanon, and his descendants have made the Light name common throughout Lebanon County. The Preservation Trust of Lebanon County has acquired the building and placed on new roof on the fort and closed off the basement to prevent moisture damage. They next plan to have an Historic Structures Report prepared in order to determine subsequent steps in the restoration process. 48

Coleman Memorial Park was created through a 1936 donation by Mr. and Mrs. G. Dawson Coleman and Mr. and Mrs. Leland Harrison of a 100-acre tract for the development of park and recreation facilities in the City of Lebanon. G. Dawson Coleman, an 19 th Century industrialist and philanthropist, was appointed U.S. Commissioner to the 1862 exhibition of the Industry of All Nations in London by Abraham Lincoln, and was a state senator during the Civil War. The Coleman family also financed the 93 rd regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers during the War, and the regiment headquarters is now the site of Monument Park, also in the city.

The Lebanon Valley Rail Trail represents a greenway through a rapidly developing part of the county. Created from the former Cornwall-Lebanon Railroad built by Robert H. Coleman in the 1880s, the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail follows a route rich with social and economic history. During the 1800s and early 1900s, the railroad carried passenger trains to the summer resort at Mount Gretna and also provided transport to the Pennsylvania National Guard training encampment near Mt. Gretna. Eventually passenger service ceased, and the Pennsylvania Railroad acquired the line. Freight service to the main line in Lancaster County continued until Hurricane Agnes washed out sections of the track in 1972. In 1999, Lebanon Valley Rails to Trails acquired the corridor to develop a multi-use trail. The trail has the potential to link with other greenway projects such as the Union Canal Greenway and Swatara State Park.

Located on east Walnut Street in Lebanon City, Brasenhill (Worrilow Mansion) was built circa 1928-1930 for William Worrilow, co-owner of the Lebanon Steel Foundry. The architect for the site was E. Donald Robb, a boyhood friend of Worrilow and architect for the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. It is the only house that Robb designed and is considered to be the finest example of 16 th century Jacobean architecture in the United States. 49

The Stone House (Quinn Mansion) was built in 1923 by Thomas Quinn, co-founder of the Lebanon Steel Foundry. The house is a replica of an English Manor House. Of special interest is a stone carved bench imported from England and dating to the 1100s. 50 It is located adjacent to Brasenhill.

46 Historic Preservation Trust of Lebanon County website, http://www.pioneerfamily.com/LebanonTrust 47 Information taken from Lebanon County website. 48 Historic Preservation Trust of Lebanon County website, http://www.pioneerfamily.com/LebanonTrust

49 Historic Preservation Trust of Lebanon County 50 Ibid.

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Lebanon County Municipal Official’s Survey In order to understand the perspective concerns of municipal leaders, a survey was mailed to elected officials, planning commission members, and the manager/administrator of every municipality in Lebanon County. Questions on the survey ranged from Quality of Life to Planning and Community Development. Survey returns totaled 89 out of 270 mailed for a return rate of 32.96%. During this outreach opportunity, municipal officials were asked to identify potentially historic properties or structures within their municipality. 68% of municipal officials that responded to the survey indicated that historic properties or structures existed in their municipality. They were then asked to identify those structures. As can be seen in Table 7-5, local officials are keenly aware of historic and potentially historic resources within their municipality and county. Some of these resources have been identified earlier in this profile and are protected from development impacts; however, for those structures that are not protected or are located in municipalities that do not have historic preservation regulations it serves as a beginning point for historic preservation action.

In addition to survey, the Historic Preservation Trust of Lebanon County was asked to identify what they felt to be additional sites of historical significance. These sites are also included in Table 7-5.

Table 7-5: Historic Properties and Structures as Identified by Municipal Officials and the Historic Preservation Trust of Lebanon County Municipality Property or Structure Identified Annville-Cleona SD

Annville Township All the historic properties and structures are located in the Historic District on Main Street

Cleona Borough An old farm house at the end of S. Garfield Street, and a farm on N. Center Street

South Annville Township Two Large Homes Built by Peter Grubb in the late 1700’s

Cornwall-Lebanon SD

Cornwall Borough Miner’s Village, Cornwall Furnace, Old School House on SR 419

Mount Gretna Borough Various Chatauqua Buildings including the Playhouse, Whole Borough

North Cornwall Township Most Stone Farm Houses or Barns in the Township

North Lebanon Township Union Canal Tunnel, Old School Houses

South Lebanon Township Moravian Cemetery

West Cornwall Township Mt. Gretna Area, Tabernacle, Quentin – History

ELCO SD

Heidelberg Township Schaeffer Farm, Square Bank, Home and Museum Isaac Meier Homestead (Myerstown Borough, Tulpehocken Manor Plantation, Former Weavers Hotel on Jackson Township Millardsville Road Millcreek Township Fort Zeller Myerstown Elementary School, Isaac Meier Homestead, Union Canal Locks, Goodwill Fire Company, Ell Myerstown Borough School, Ell Home, Mill on Tulp Creek, Old Homes on Main and Cherry Streets (Limestone and Log) Lebanon SD

Lebanon City Bethlehem Steel Office (current IU-13 building) located at Lincoln Avenue and Cumberland Street Salem Lutheran Church located at 8 th and Willow Streets and Tabor UCC (Reformed) Church at 10 th and Lebanon City Walnut Streets. Lebanon City The Downtown Business District Mansions on East Walnut Street are of significance with respect to the iron industry and the economy of Lebanon City Lebanon City and Lebanon County. West Lebanon Township Coleman Chapel, Municipal Building, Community Building , High School, Community Center

Northern Lebanon SD Armar Bordner cabin. The cabin was constructed by a teacher and his students in 1939 from hand-hewn Bethel Township logs and stone found on the site and is sited next to the only waterfall in Lebanon County. The cabin is the last of 3 structures standing since Project 70 acquired other homes in Swatara State Park through eminent

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Municipality Property or Structure Identified domain and is three years from National Register eligibility. Furthermore, Colonel Benjamin Acrigg, Union Canal engineer, once owned the land where the cabin sits. Bethel Township Hamlin Country Store – Only continually operating country store left in the county Union Canal, One Room School Houses, Harpers Tavern, Swatara Creek Inn, Several Very Old East Hanover Township Cemeteries East Hanover Township Harper’s Tavern (circa 1730), located at Route 934 and Jonestown Road.

Jonestown Borough Many Log Homes that have been covered with vinyl siding, Some Log Homes

Swatara Township Monroe Valley Chapel, “Bethel” Moravian Cemetery used 1752-1833 Union Canal Locks, Walmer’s Church (home of 250+ yr. old congregation), Joseph Johns home(Virginia Union Township born slave buried at Moonshine Cemetery) Palmyra Area SD

North Londonderry Township Bindnagles Lutheran Church Stauffer House, Londonderry Inn, Horseshoe Place – All pre-1900 Buildings in Rural Villages, Rising Sun South Londonderry Township Bar and Grill, Residences in Colebrook across from Colebrook Tavern Source: Municipal Officials Survey – Lebanon County Comprehensive Plan

Critical Areas

Significant historic resources throughout Lebanon County are facing increased pressures related to economic decline, growth and urban sprawl. It is important that these threats are recognized and that critical areas are identified so that an effort can be made to address such threats.

As populations move from the older established towns, boroughs and the City of Lebanon, into the more rural landscapes of the outer townships, historical resources become threatened. As many industries and office parks are locating in the suburbs, and the big box retailers are ever increasing their presence, the economies of the downtowns and older communities begin to suffer. Declining economies can lead to decreased property values, which in turn can encourage abandonment and blight. It is vital that the historic value of these older places and properties be recognized and that steps are taken to preserve these structures which provide a link to the past in Lebanon County.

Increased mobility has remained a driving force of the urban emigration that noticeably began in the 1950s. The automobile has catered to the individual and provided people with a sense of entitlement about where they may go and how quickly they ought to be there. As the demand for mobility increases, so does the demand for transportation improvements specifically, new roads, bridges and highways. Historically, transportation planning has often neglected to incorporate land use planning or planning for the preservation of historic properties. As transportation improvements are suggested, it is important to recognize what effects they may have on historic resources of the area. The effect may be direct, such as a new highway project proposed through the homestead of a prominent individual in the community; or indirect, such as a highway project designed to bypass a downtown which could lead to economic decline. Better linkages between land use and transportation have developed in recent years, resulting in more sensitivity to the historic resources of communities.

Legal Foundation for Historic Preservation

Many historic preservation techniques and programs are available to facilitate historic resource protection. Most techniques and programs evolved from federal or state laws. An understanding of the legal foundation for historic preservation is helpful to determine what techniques and programs a Historic Resources Protection Plan should include.

Federal Level

The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) earmarked the beginning of federal historic preservation policy. The NHPA was intended to stop the severe loss of historic resources in large cities and boroughs due to urban renewal. The legislation was intended to create a comprehensive framework for preserving historic resources through a system of reviews, regulations and incentives. The NHPA encouraged cooperation among federal, state and local governments to address historic resources protection. In Pennsylvania, the Bureau for Historic Preservation (BHP), an agency of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), is the state agency responsible for overseeing this coordination.

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The NHPA formalized the National Register of Historic Places, in which a number of Lebanon County resources are either listed or eligible for listing. The NHPA also instituted the review process, discussed below, for any project that receives federal funds. The act also authorizes the Certified Local Government Program, which enables municipalities to participate directly in federal preservation programs and to access through the state certain funds earmarked for historic preservation activities.

The National Register's standards for evaluating the significance of properties were developed to recognize the accomplishments of all peoples who have made a significant contribution to our country's history and heritage. The criteria are designed to guide state and local governments, federal agencies, and others in evaluating potential entries in the National Register. Criteria for listing in the National Register include the following:

1. property demonstrates significance in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, or culture 2. property possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association, 3. property’s significance was attained 50 years ago or more, and 4. property a. is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or b. is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or c. embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or d. has yielded or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.

Additional information on National Register criteria can be found on the National Park Service website, www.cr.nps.gov/nr/ , as well as that of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), www.phmc.state.pa.us/bhp/nr/ .

Section 106 Review Process

The Section 106 review process requires that any project using federal funds, which includes most PennDOT projects, be reviewed for its impact on historic resources either listed in, or determined to be eligible for, the National Register of Historic Places. Section 106 does not directly prohibit alteration or destruction of these resources, but it does require a thorough investigation of alternatives and the consideration of mitigation measures.

State Level

The NHPA authorizes the appointment of a State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to administer provisions of the act at the state level. In Pennsylvania, the agency assigned to this responsibility is the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC). This entity is responsible for making initial determinations of eligibility for the National Register, managing state historic archives and administering a wide variety of historic preservation programs. PHMC is located at 300 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Programs and services of the PHMC are listed on its website, www.phmc.state.pa.us .

The Pennsylvania History Code pertains to conservation, preservation, protection, and management of historical and museum resources and identifies PHMC as the agency responsible for conducting these activities. It outlines Pennsylvania’s legal framework for historic preservation and mandates cooperation among other state entities in identifying and protecting historical and archaeological resources.

Two Pennsylvania laws provide the legal foundation for municipalities to adopt historic preservation ordinances. These laws include Act 167 (the Historic District Act of 1961), which authorizes municipalities to create local historic districts and protect the historic and architectural character of the district through the regulation of new building, reconstruction, alteration, restoration, demolition, or razing of buildings within a certified local historic district. Local districts established under this act must be certified by PHMC. This act also requires the appointment of a Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB).

The second law is Act 247 (the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code or MPC) which authorizes the use of municipal land use controls such as use regulations, and area and bulk regulations, to protect historic resources. The MPC specifically regulates places having unique historical, architectural, or patriotic interest or value through the creation of a specific zoning classification. The MPC further stipulates that a municipal plan for historic preservation shall be consistent with and may not exceed those requirements imposed under the following:

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1. Clean Streams Law 2. Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act 3. The Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act 4. The Coal Refuse Disposal Control Act 5. Oil and Gas Act 6. Noncoal Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act 7. Agricultural Security Act 8. An Act Protecting Agricultural Operations from Nuisance Suits and Ordinances Under Certain Circumstances 9. Nutrient Management Act

County and Local Levels

At the county level, the county planning commission or department can support and provide necessary technical guidance to those municipalities that desire to adopt historic preservation ordinances, and integrate the county’s historic resources with other community initiatives. At the local level, municipalities can adopt single purpose historic preservation ordinances and establish architectural and historic review boards. Generally, historic preservation regulations are integrated within a zoning ordinance; they also can stand alone as a single purpose historic preservation ordinance, providing the same level of protection. In Lebanon County, Cornwall Borough and Heidelberg Township have adopted an Historic Overlay District in their Zoning Ordinances; Annville Township has created an Historic and Architectural Review Board (HARB).

The purpose of the Cornwall Borough Historic Overlay District is to “promote the cultural and economic general welfare through the preservation and protection of historic places and areas of unique and historic interest in the Borough of Cornwall. Structures or areas of with special historic, cultural, architectural or educational significance enhance the quality of life for all residents of Cornwall Borough. Accordingly, the specific purposes of the Historic Overlay District are: • To safeguard the historic and cultural heritage embodied in historically significant areas of the Borough; • To preserve property values, attract tourists and strengthen the economy of the Borough; • To foster public education and civic pride in the beauty and noble accomplishments of the past; and • To establish special development requirements and procedures to assure that new construction, reconstruction, alteration or demolition of buildings within these districts enhances the character of the district.”51

The ordinance defines what is considered to be an historic structure and describes the overlay district to comprise any individual historic structures and any historic structures located in the villages of Burd Coleman, Minersvillage, North Cornwall and Anthracite. Where there are historic properties, the ordinance prohibits all new construction and the construction of driveways between the front face of the structure and the front property line. It also regulates new subdivisions and land developments that include an historic structure or are located within 500 feet of the boundary of the Historic Overlay District. Demolitions of any historic or cultural site deemed having historical value in the Cornwall Borough Comprehensive Plan require permission of the Cornwall Borough Council.

In order to encourage the preservation of the identified historic resources in the Borough, the ordinance identifies certain conditional uses that may be established in an historic structure that may not be typically allowed in the underlying district. Any conditional use requires the approval of the Cornwall Borough Council.

The Historic Overlay District in Heidelberg Township is applied in the historic villages of Schaefferstown and Kleinfeltersville. It also applies to individual structures, groups of structures, land or land and structures in combination designated by the ordinance as historic structures. The purpose of the overlay and the regulations included within are similar to those contained in the Cornwall Borough Historic Overlay District, as outlined above. The overlay also permits select conditional uses not permitted in the underlying zoning district, if certain requirements are met; any conditional use requires the approval of the Heidelberg Township Board of Supervisors.

Annville Township has a designated historic district, described as the part of the township “between the Quittapahilla Creek on the west, and Saylor Street on the East, all properties adjoining Route 422 to the north and to the south,” 52 in other words, along Main Street. The district includes notable residential, commercials and institutional structures in Italianate, Queen

51 Cornwall Borough Zoning Ordinance (Amended 1/14/02) 52 Ibid.

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Anne, Classical Revival, and Georgian and styles now features historic lighting at the square—the intersection of US 422 and PA 934.

Annville Township has a separate ordinance “creating a Historic District, setting forth the purposes, defining terms, creating the Historical Architectural Review Board and setting forth its powers and duties, defining design guidelines, setting forth an application review procedure, including where unreasonable economic hardship is involved, and providing for enforcement.” 53 The ordinance states that the District is created for the following purposes: • To protect that portion of Annville Township which reflects the cultural, economical, social, political, archaeological and architectural history of Annville Township, the State and the Nation. • To awaken in our people an interest in the historic past. • To promote the use and reuse of the historic buildings of Annville Township for the culture, education, pleasure and the general welfare of the people of Annville Township, the State and the Nation. • To strengthen the economy of Annville Township by stabilizing and improving property values within the historic district through the continued use, preservation, and restoration of its resources. • To encourage new buildings and developments that will be harmonious with the existing historic and architecturally important buildings. • To establish a clear process by which proposed changes affecting historic resources are reviewed. • To encourage the preservation of historic settings and landscapes.” 54

The HARB is defined as “The agency that advises the Township governing body on any requests for authorization to construct, alter, move, reconstruct, repair, restore or demolish all or a part of any building within the historic district.” The HARB is composed of five members appointed by the Township Commissioners for a term of four years. One member must be a registered architect, one a licensed real estate broker, one a building inspector, one a member of the Annville Township Planning Commission, and one a resident of the Township.

Among other things, the HARB is responsible for: • Providing recommendations to the Annville Township Commissioners regarding the advisability of issuing any Certificate of Appropriateness • Conducting a survey of buildings for the purpose of determining the historical and/or architectural significance and pertinent facts about them • Proposing, as deemed appropriate, the establishment of additional historic districts and revisions to existing historic districts • Formulating recommendations concerning the preparation and publication of maps, brochures, and descriptive material about Annville’s historic district and/or architectural sites and buildings • Cooperating with and advising the Annville Township Commissioners, the Annville Township Planning Commission and other Annville Township agencies in matters involving historically and/or architecturally significant sites and buildings • Advising owners of historic buildings on problems of preservation • Cooperating with and advising the Annville Township Commissioners about and developing and promulgating regularly scheduled public education involving historic preservation.

In determining the recommendations to be made to the Annville Township Commissioners concerning the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness, the HARB only considers matters that are pertinent to the preservation of the site, area or district, certified to have historical significance including various design guidelines, the effect of the proposed change upon the general historic and architectural nature of the District, and various signage regulations.

The application review procedure is designed such that upon receipt of an application for a building permit, the Building Permit Officer determines if the proposed work is to be done in the historic district. If the work is to be done with in the boundaries of the historic district, the permit officer shall not issue a building permit until the applicant has complied with the Annville Township Historic District Ordinance. The applicant is referred to the Annville Township Historic District Permit Officer, who then forwards a copy of the building permit to the HARB, along with copies of any plot plan and building plans and specifications filed by the applicant. The HARB will consider the application, review it at a HARB meeting, and make its recommendation to the Annville Township Board of Commissioners. The Historic District Officer shall not issue a permit for

53 Annville Township Ordinance No. 484 54 Ibid.

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any construction, alteration, reconstruction, repair, restoration, or demolition of all or a part of any building in the District until the Annville Township Board of Commissioners has issued a Certificate of Appropriateness.

The Annville Township Board of Commissioners has also adopted a separate ordinance which lists pre-approved improvements allowed for purposes of making temporary emergency repairs to buildings within the Annville Township Historic District damaged by fire, explosion, or similar causes.

Establishing an Historic Overlay Zoning District, or a HARB, helps to increase public awareness of cultural and historical resources of a community and impose effective regulations that assist in the preservation of these resources and the character of the surrounding area.

Benefits and Opportunities for Historic Resource Preservation

Historic resources preservation is most successful when it is integrated into the other aspects of planning that affect the municipality. For example, preservation of historic places can be directly linked to the preservation of open space, scenic roadways, and the provision of trails and bikeways. By incorporating historic resources into these other planning components, awareness of the number, type, and significance of the resources is raised within the county. The resources become part of people’s everyday lives as they work, play, and enjoy the presence of the sites and structures. In essence, the resources remain a living part of the community, and not just some “old building” where they are expended as a frill or for purely nostalgic reasons. Consequently, there is an increase in the desire to protect such resources.

Lebanon County has shown a commitment to preserving its historic and cultural heritage. A primary focus of this plan is to harness community support to increase community participation in its preservation efforts . The work completed and on-going by the different historic preservation organizations in the county must be continued, and verifies the need to continue identifying historic resources and promoting the county’s existing resources. This will ensure that these resources are protected for future generations to enjoy.

Preservation of the county’s historical resources is important to the residents of the county. Historically significant properties and structures are located throughout the county, some of which are located in the rapidly developing areas and require special attention, for example, in order to be conserved as a central feature in a subdivision or land development. However, identifying the location of these sites does not protect them from demolition or inappropriate alterations. The core belief behind protecting and preserving these resources is that the past plays an important role in residents’ lives today.

Programs and Services

Lebanon County Historical Society

The Lebanon County Historical Society was founded in 1898. The society offices, Stoy Museum, museum gift shop and Hauck Memorial Library are located at 924 Cumberland Street in Lebanon. The building contains 3 floors and is half a city block long. The original front portion of the building was built in 1773 as a home for Dr. William Henry Stoy, a local minister and prominent Revolutionary War doctor. The upstairs rooms were used as Lebanon County's first courthouse when the county was established in 1813. James Buchanan, fifteenth President of the United States practiced law there as a young attorney. John Andrew Shulze served there as the new county's first prothonotary and later became Governor of Pennsylvania.

Throughout the museum, visitors find fine examples of Pennsylvania German craftsmanship in such items as furniture, quilting and weaving, fraktur, and redware. A guided tour of the museum begins with a stroll through several early shops and offices. Young and old enjoy browsing in the one-room schoolhouse and the toy shop before experiencing a turn-of-the century general store, stocked with everything from cookie cutters to kerosene lamps. Community industries such as blacksmithing, farming and milling, carpentry, weaving, printing, shoemaking, and mining are exhibited as they were found throughout the area many years ago. Each exhibit provides insight into the lives of the men and women who built our strong nation. From war memorabilia to railroading to 18th Century firefighting equipment, a tour of the Stoy Museum offers a delightful and informative experience for everyone.

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The society also owns and maintains the Union Canal Tunnel and Union Canal Tunnel Park, which provides walking trails, picnic tables and birding opportunities. No admission fee is charged. Additionally, the Historical Society is investigating the possibility of relocating its facilities to the park. More information can be found at www.lebanonhistory.org .55

Historic Preservation Trust of Lebanon County

The Historic Preservation Trust of Lebanon County was founded and incorporated in 1967 and operates as an organization under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Trust’s mission is to: • Raise the consciousness of the historic preservation cause within the boundaries of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania • Identify sites which are of exceptional historic and/or architectural merit to Lebanon County and beyond • Encourage individuals, organizations and governmental bodies to restore and preserve historic sites and structures • Organize, whenever feasible, umbrella groups within the Trust for the sole purpose of restoring singular projects

The Trust is currently undertaking four projects in Lebanon County: The Isaac Meier Homestead; Light’s Fort; the Chestnut Street Log House; and the Monroe Valley Chapel. Each project is entitled to grants from the Trust but operates under its own membership, officers, and treasury. The Trust grants are generally funded by the profits of an annual Garden Tours, which concentrates on a particular part of Lebanon County each year. In pursuance of its mission, the Trust holds semi-annual dinner meetings of the general membership and is governed between these meeting by a fifteen member Board of Directors at the call of the Trust president.

The Isaac Meier Homestead and the Chestnut Street Log House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Isaac Meier Homestead is the largest project the Trust has undertaken; $300,000. have been spent on preserving and restoring the structure since it started in 1970. The Trust leases the Isaac Meier Homestead from Myerstown Borough and has received grants and bequests to assist in funding the restoration effort.

The Chestnut Street Log House dates from pre-Revolutionary times, circa 1760. The Log House is managed by the Friends of the Chestnut Street Log House and has been a Trust project since 1976.

The Monroe Valley Chapel is located at 135 Golf Course Road. It is a post-Revolutionary War structure, circa 1840, situated between two ridges of the Appalachian Mountains in the area known as Monroe Valley in northern Lebanon County. The fieldstone structure has been reconstructed through the efforts of the students and staff of Northern Lebanon High School. The Trust is named as the trustee of the chapel.

Light’s Fort is the oldest structure in the City of Lebanon and is owned by the Trust. The house was constructed circa 1742 by immigrant Johannes Licht and later used for protection against the Indians. It is located at 11 th and Maple Streets and built from indigenous limestone in a traditional style of the early Germans. The Friends of Light’s Fort work closely with the Trust and are dedicated to the restoration of the house.

In addition to the four projects the Trust is undertaking, a primary concern of the organization is the razing of local barns that are unique to the locale.

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) preserves the Commonwealth’s memory as a teacher and champion of its heritage for citizens of Pennsylvania and the nation. The PHMC was created by Act No. 446, approved June 6, 1945, amending the Administrative Code to consolidate the functions of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission, the State Museum, and the State Archives. The Bureau for Historic Preservation is part of the PHMC and serves as the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The Commission is the Commonwealth’s official history agency, and the Executive Director is designated as the State Historic Preservation Officer. The PHMC is located at 300 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120 and can be contacted at 717-787-3362 or www.phmc.stat.pa.us .

The role of the bureau is to identify and protect the architectural and archaeological resources of Pennsylvania with a responsibility to work with individuals, communities, local governments, and state and federal agencies to educate Pennsylvanians about their heritage and its value, to build better communities through preservation, to provide strong

55 Lebanon County Historical Society

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leadership, both individually and through partnerships, and to insure the preservation of Pennsylvania’s heritage. The bureau offers several programs to assist individuals and governments in managing historic preservation.

The National Historic Preservation Act, passed by Congress in 1966 and amended in 1980, created the Certified Local Government (CLG) program to insure that local governments will be eligible to receive technical and financial assistance to strengthen their local historic preservation efforts and expand their historic preservation activities. The Bureau for Historic Preservation (BHP) helps local governments apply for and achieve the National Park Service’s (NPS) Certified Local Government program. In turn, local governments agree to expand their responsibilities through the enactment and enforcement of historic preservation ordinances, by the appointment of Boards of Historical Architectural Review (BHAR) or historical commissions, and by commenting on National Register nominations within their jurisdiction. In addition, they agree to provide a brief annual report of their preservation activities, have their BHARs participate in training opportunities, and undertake or update historic resource surveys. To help achieve these goals, BHP provides valuable technical assistance and matching grants to Certified Local Governments.

The bureau administers the Federal Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit (RITC) program in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).The tax credit program is one of the most successful and cost- effective programs that encourages private investment in rehabilitating income producing, historic properties such as office buildings, rental housing, hotels, bed and breakfasts, and retail stores. Since the inception of RITCs in 1976, Pennsylvania has been a national leader in certified tax credit projects, completing over 2,055 projects and generating over $3.3 billion in private reinvestment back into Pennsylvania communities. 56

Preservation Pennsylvania

Preservation Pennsylvania (PPA) is the Commonwealth's only statewide, private non-profit, membership organization dedicated to the protection of historically and architecturally significant properties. Preservation Pennsylvania, through creative partnerships, targeted educational and advocacy programs, advisory assistance, and special projects, assists Pennsylvania communities to protect and utilize the historic resources they want to preserve for the future. PPA offers technical assistance, financial assistance, publications, conferences and workshops and annual awards to encourage historic preservation. 57

Pennsylvania Archaeological Council

The Pennsylvania Archaeological Council (PAC) is a statewide organization of professional archaeologists dedicated to promoting Pennsylvania archaeology. The specific goals of the organization are: • To actively promote legislation in the best interests of archaeology in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, • To assist and advise state and federal agencies within the Commonwealth in matters pertaining to historic and archaeological preservation and to encourage the highest standards of professionalism in such matters, • To promote informed and creative archaeological research and to provide a vehicle for its dissemination, • To promote the education of both the public and private sectors in all archaeological matters, • To establish ethical and research standards for the conduct of archaeology in the Commonwealth, and • To provide both scientific and moral leadership in all archaeological matters in the Commonwealth. 58

Pennsylvania Downtown Center

The Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC) is the only statewide nonprofit organization dedicated solely to the revitalization of the Commonwealth’s core or traditional communities. The PDC provides outreach, technical assistance and educational services primarily utilizing the National Main Street’s Four Point Approach to communities interested in the revitalization of their central business districts and surrounding residential neighborhoods. The PDC is also a strong advocate for downtown and neighborhood initiatives in the Commonwealth and is active in many strategic partnerships which promote revitalization and reinvestment in the Commonwealth’s “core communities.” 59

56 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission 57 Preservation Pennsylvania 58 Pennsylvania Archaeological Council 59 Pennsylvania Downtown Center

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Pennsylvania Heritage Society

The Pennsylvania Heritage Society is the co-publisher of the award-winning quarterly Pennsylvania Heritage , and serves a critical role as the non-profit organization supporting the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), the state’s official history agency. With the support of over 5,800 members from every corner of the state and beyond, the Heritage Society works with the PHMC on a variety of projects to preserve and interpret Pennsylvania’s history, art and culture.60

Local Preservation Organizations

Other organizations that are working on the preservation and conservation of historic resources throughout Lebanon County include: • Historic Schaefferstown – organized in 1966 to protect the Schaeffer Farm and Rex House • Friends of Old Annville – organized in 1979 to recognize individual homeowners for their efforts to preserve the historic character of Annville • Cornwall Iron Furnace Associates – organized in 1984 to assist with fundraisers for the site • Lebanon Valley Conservancy – organized in 2000 with a mission of preserving the natural heritage • Mount Gretna Area Historical Society – organized in 2004 to recognize and raise awareness of the history of Mount Gretna and the surrounding areas • Cornwall Historical Alliance – organized in 2006 to preserve the old Cornwall High School • Swatara Creek Watershed Association—the Armar Bordner cabin.

National Register of Historic Places

Listing in the National Register contributes to preserving historic properties in a number of ways: • Recognition that a property is of significance to the nation, the state, or the community. • Consideration in the planning for federal or federally assisted projects. • Eligibility for federal tax benefits. • Qualification for federal assistance for historic preservation, when funds are available.

Detailed information about the National Register of Historic Places is included in the section of this profile which notes places in Lebanon County that have been listed or are eligible to be included in the National Register of Historic Places.

As is evident in this profile, Lebanon County is rich with cultural and historic resources. It has been through the public and private efforts of the residents and communities of Lebanon County that these resources have been preserved; however, much work still needs to be done.

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